Official Rules of Polish Poker

1. Components

Use a standard deck of playing cards.
Extract all cards from 9 to Ace in all four suits.
Add 1 Joker.
The deck for this game consists of 25 cards.

2. Objective

Eliminate all other players and become the sole winner.

3. Number of Players

The game is designed for 2–6 players.
Best played with 4 players.
For 7 or more players, a tournament format is recommended.

4. Hands

4.1 Notes on the Short Deck

Unlike classic poker, this game uses a short deck (9 to Ace + Joker).
With this structure:
Three of a Kind is harder to complete than a Straight.
A Flush is harder to complete than a Full House.
Therefore, the hand ranking is adjusted accordingly.

4.2 Hand Rankings (Strongest to Weakest)

#1 – Five of a Kind

Four of the same rank + Joker.

Lowest: 9-9-9-9-Joker
Highest: A-A-A-A-Joker
(strongest possible hand in the game)

#2 – Royal Flush

Five cards in consecutive order and of the same suit, from 10 to A.

Example: A-K-Q-J-10 ♥

#3 – Straight Flush

Five consecutive cards of the same suit, from 9 to K.

Example: 9-10-J-Q-K ♦

#4 – Four of a Kind

Four cards of the same rank.

Lowest: 9-9-9-9
Highest: A-A-A-A

#5 – Flush

Any five cards of the same suit.
Example: 9-10-Q-K-A ♣

#6 – Full House

Three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.

Lowest: 9-9-9-10-10
Highest: A-A-A-K-K

#7 – Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same rank.

Lowest: 9-9-9
Highest: A-A-A

#8 – Straight

Five consecutive cards of any suit.

Small Straight: 9-10-J-Q-K
Big Straight: 10-J-Q-K-A

#9 – Two Pairs

Two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.

Lowest: 9-9-10-10
Highest: A-A-K-K

#10 – One Pair

Two cards of the same rank.

Lowest: 9-9
Highest: A-A

#11 – High Card

If no other combination is made, the hand is valued by the highest single card.

Lowest: 9
Highest: A

4.3 Joker

The Joker is a wild card.
It may substitute any card in the deck to complete the best possible hand.

No ties occur — outcomes are resolved through the RAISE / CALL mechanic.

4.4 Suit Role

Suit-based hands (#2 Royal Flush, #3 Straight Flush, #5 Flush) may be beaten by the same hand declared in another suit.
Suit order does not matter — all suits are equal.

Once all four suits have been used for a given hand, the next RAISE must be a higher-ranking hand.

6. Gameplay

6.1 Starting a Round

Each player draws their own cards from the deck (no dealer).
Once all players have their cards, the starting player reveals one community card from the deck and places it face-up in the center.
The community card counts as a playing card and is considered when verifying hand declarations.

All undealt cards remain face-down and are not in play.

5.2 Declarations and Betting

The starting player declares a hand they claim exists (truth or bluff).
The next player must either:
RAISE — declare a higher hand in the ranking,
CALL — challenge the last declaration.
Important:

Since the only option besides CALL is RAISE, hands escalate during each round.
Declarations become progressively harder to achieve.
This mechanic naturally forces players to bluff.

Additional rule — Five Aces (A-A-A-A-Joker):
If any player declares Five Aces, the table may immediately reveal all cards (without waiting for a normal CALL).
For consistency, it is considered that the next player in the direction of play has made the CALL, and the round is resolved according to the standard CALL resolution rules.

6.3 Resolving a CALL

All players reveal their cards.
Only personal cards and the community card are considered.
If the declared hand exists → the CALLER loses.
If the declared hand does not exist → the declarer loses.

6.4 Penalties and Elimination

A losing player begins the next round with one additional card.
If a player holds five cards and loses again → they are eliminated.
The next round begins with the next player in the established direction of play, regardless of who lost the previous round.
The game continues until one winner remains.

6.5 Game progression

Early rounds: lower hands dominate.
As more cards enter play, stronger combinations become more likely.
Tension increases naturally as information grows.
When a player is eliminated, five fewer cards are in play in the following round.
Players should adjust accordingly and be mindful of the reduced probability structure.

7. Example Rounds

7.1 Correct CALL

Situation:
Player A declares: “Pair of 9s”.
Player B raises: “Pair of Jacks”.
Player C raises: “Three Kings”.
Player D says CALL.

Result:
The cards are revealed — Three Kings exist.
Player C was truthful.
Player D loses.

7.2 Bluff Caught

Situation:
Player A declares: “Pair of Kings”.
Player B raises: “Three Jacks”.
Player C says CALL.

Result:
The cards are revealed — Three Jacks do not exist.
Player B was bluffing.
Player B loses.

7.3 Suit-over-Suit Play

Situation:
Player A declares: “Full House, 9s over 10s”.
Player B raises: “Flush Spades”.
Player C raises: “Flush Diamonds”.
Player D raises: “Flush Hearts”.
Player A raises: “Flush Clubs”.
(Note: All four Flush suits have now been used.)
Player B raises higher: “Four of a Kind, 9s”.
Player C says CALL.

Result:
The cards are revealed — Four of a Kind, 9s exist.
Player B was truthful.
Player C loses.

8. Player Count & Tournament Structure

8.1 Standard Format (2-4 Players)

Maximum of 5 personal cards before elimination.

8.2 Five Players

Maximum of 4 personal cards.
A player losing with 4 cards is eliminated.
Once reduced to 4 players, return to the standard format.

Worst-case scenario:
5 × 4 = 20 personal cards + 1 community card = 21 cards in play.

8.3 Six Players

Stage 1 — Up to 3 cards.

Stage 2 — Up to 4 cards (5 players remain).

Stage 3 — Standard format (4 players remain).

Worst-case scenario:
6 × 3 = 18 personal cards + 1 community card = 19 cards in play.

8.4 Seven or More Players — Tournament Format

Divide players into two or more tables.
Each table plays independently.
Top 1 or 2 players advance to a Final Table.

Aim for a 4-player Final Table whenever possible.