Pokeno is a casino game that is a mixture of two other casino games: poker and keno. Like keno, the game relies on randomly drawn symbols, which the players mark on their pokeno cards (cards with rows and columns of symbols). However, the symbols used for pokeno are playing card symbols, which allows players to create poker hands on their keno cards.
Pokeno Cards
Players start by purchasing any number of pokeno cards. Players can purchase as many cards as they like from the pokeno caller. If you use a pokeno card during a round, it cannot be used in the next round unless otherwise noted.
Drawing
During a round, the pokeno caller begins by randomly drawing a playing card from the standard deck of 52 cards. When the card is called out, players mark the corresponding box on their pokeno cards.
Winning
Once a player has marked a full row or column on their pokeno card, the player calls out that they have won. In the event of a tie, whichever player can make the highest poker hand with their row or column is the winner. The winner is then given a predetermined prize and becomes the caller for the next round. Since there are so few cards that can be used, ties are much more likely in pokeno than in keno.
Blackjack Rules
Pokeno can also be played using Blackjack rules. With these rules, the pokeno caller has his own pokeno card. He deals playing cards until he has five symbols in a row on his card. After this, any players who also have five in a row on their pokeno cards and have a higher poker hand than the dealer win the game. If no one can win the game, then the dealer wins.
Roulette Rules
With the roulette rules of pokeno, players are given one pokeno card, at which point they can place a wager on one column and row of their card. Then, 25 cards are turned over and called. The players may only mark symbols in the row and column on their card on which they placed a wager. Any players who were able to complete one or both of their wagers will win. If no one wins, then the caller is the winner, and all wagers are turned over to him.
Writer Bio
Bryan Roberts began his love affair with comedy in 2003 as a writer and performer for Austin's No Shame Theatre. Since then, he has appeared with several different sketch groups (Hoover's Blanket, Ghetto Sketch Warlock). His most recent achievements are the award-winning improv show Guilds Of Steel, which he created and co-directed, and his position of writer/actor in the Coldtowne Theater Mainstage Sketch Show.
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