Welcome to Paiute!
About Paiute: Let’s play to win!
Number of Players: 2-5 players
Number of Cards: You’ll need a standard 52-card deck
Card Rankings: A (highest), K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
Type of Game: Draw and discard
Audience: Suitable for all ages
Introducing Paiute
Paiute is a card game that originated in Hawai’i. It bears a resemblance to Knock Poker, with the unique twist that players have the option to “go out” if they draw a hand of six cards.
The game is designed for 2 to 5 players, each playing with a standard 52-card Anglo or Western deck.
The Deal
Let’s talk about how the card game is played. First, we need to choose a dealer. It can be done randomly or any way the players prefer. Once we have a dealer, they will shuffle the deck and let the player on their right cut it. After that, the dealer will give each player five cards. These cards are dealt face-down, one at a time. When everyone has their cards, the dealer will flip over the next card on the deck and place it face-up on the table. This card is called the wild card, and its denomination will be important for the rest of the game.
The remaining cards in the deck will be our stockpile. The top card of the stockpile is then flipped over and placed beside it. This card is called the discard. Now that everything is set up, we can start playing!
How to Play
We start with the player to the left of the dealer, and the game moves clockwise from there. It’s your turn!
When it’s my turn, I grab one card. I can choose to take it from the pile or from the top card of the discard. After grabbing a card, I have to discard one card from my hand. If I choose to take from the pile, I can discard it right away. But if I take from the discard pile, I can’t use the same card to discard – it has to be a different one. I always have to keep 5 cards in my hand until someone calls.
If I have a winning combination, I can call after drawing a card. If I’m not the dealer and I call, that round of the game is over. Then, each player gets 1 more turn to try and make a winning hand.
When it comes to playing a winning hand in a card game, there are some important rules to remember. First, a winning hand consists of either 5 or 6 cards. You have the option to improve your hand by drawing more cards, and you are not required to call if you have a combination already. However, if you decide to call, you must show your hand face-up on the table. If you have a 5-card combination, you need to discard the 6th card before displaying them. But if you have a 6-card combination, there’s no need to discard any cards. Finally, each player takes their last turn as usual.
Now, let’s talk about the different winning combinations, ranked from high to low:
1. 5 of a Kind: This combination consists of five cards of equal rank. It’s the highest-ranking combination you can have.
2. Royal Flush: A Royal Flush is a combination of A-K-Q-J-10, all from the same suit. It’s a very powerful combination.
3. Straight Flush: This combination includes any five cards in sequence, regardless of their suit. It’s a strong combination that can lead to victory.
4. Four/Two: In this combination, you have four cards of equal rank, along with two cards of equal rank. It’s a good combination to aim for.
5. Three/Three: The Three/Three combination consists of two separate sets of three cards of equal rank. It’s a decent combination that can help you win the game.
Now that you know the different winning combinations, you’re ready to take your card game skills to the next level. Good luck!
- 2/2/2. You have three separate pairs.
If you run out of cards during the game, just shuffle the discard pile and use it as a new deck.
PAYOUT
When playing Paiute, you can bet some money, but it’s usually a small amount. Before each round, everyone puts in the same amount of money into the pot. The person with the best hand wins the pot. If there’s a tie, which doesn’t happen often, the players split the pot evenly.
When playing Paiute, you can bet some money, but it’s usually a small amount. Before each round, everyone puts in the same amount of money into the pot. The person with the best hand wins the pot. If there’s a tie, which doesn’t happen often, the players split the pot evenly.