Shifting Sands Poker

Shifting Sands Overview

Shifting Sands is a variant of Roll Your Own (also known as Mexican Stud), with the additional twist that the first card that is turned over is wild. Like Seven Card Stud, Shifting Sands is suitable for 3-7 players.

Shifting Sands Rules

To begin play, players ante up, placing a small sum in the pot. The dealer gives each player three cards, face down. On the count of three, each player turns one card face up. This card is wild, as are any other card of its rank in the player’s hand.

Beginning with the player to the dealer’s left, and moving clockwise around the table, there is a round of betting. Each player, in turn, chooses to match or call the current bet, raise the current bet, or fold. A player who has folded is no longer in the game.

When the betting round is completed, the dealer gives each player an additional card. On the count of three, each player turns over an additional card. It does not have to be the last one dealt. This is followed by another round of betting.

The same is done when the fifth and sixth cards are dealt. Each card is followed by a round of betting.

The seventh card is dealt face down and remains face down. It is followed by a round of betting. After the round of betting, there is a showdown. Players form the best possible hand from five of the cards in their hand, remembering that the first card they turned over and any card that is of the same rank is wild. The player with the best poker hand wins the pot.