CHICAGO

Overview

Chicago, also known as High Chicago, is a seven-card stud variant where the pot is split between the highest hand and the highest spade in the hole (face down). This creates an additional strategic element where players compete for both the best poker hand and the best hidden spade.

The Split Pot

• Half the pot goes to the player with the highest hand
• Half the pot goes to the player with the highest spade in the hole (face down)
• The same player can win both halves by having the highest hand AND the highest face-down spade

The Deal

Identical to Seven-Card Stud:

• Third Street: Two cards face down, one card face up
• Fourth Street: One card face up
• Fifth Street: One card face up
• Sixth Street: One card face up
• Seventh Street (River): One card face DOWN

Betting Rounds

There are five betting rounds:

1. After third street (two down, one up)
2. After fourth street
3. After fifth street
4. After sixth street
5. After seventh street (final card)

Betting Order

Each betting round is begun by the player with the highest hand showing (based on visible cards).

Declaration

After the final betting round, all active players must declare their intentions:

• High Hand: Going for the highest hand
• Spade: Going for the highest face-down spade
• Both: Going for both halves

Declaration Rules

Winning Both Halves

If you declare "both" (highest hand and highest spade), you win only if you actually have BOTH the highest hand AND the highest face-down spade. If you win only one, you only get that half of the pot.

Example Scenarios

Scenario 1: If the is dealt face UP to any player, then the in the hole (face down) is guaranteed to win the spade half of the pot, assuming its owner declared spade.

Scenario 2: You have face down and face down. All visible spades are lower than . You have a strong chance to win the spade half, and if you also have the highest hand, you can declare "both" and scoop the pot!

Declaration Methods

Declaration can be done in one of two ways:

• Sequential: Starting to the left of the dealer, each player declares in turn
• Simultaneous: All players declare at the same time using chips (one chip for high, two chips for spade, three chips for both)

Key Strategic Elements

• Pay attention to which spades are dealt face-up - they're dead for the spade pot
• A high face-down spade gives you an additional way to win
• If you don't have a face-down spade, you can only compete for the high hand
• Watch opponents' upcards to gauge if they have face-down spades
• Consider your declaration strategy based on your hole cards

Strategy Tips

• High spades in the hole are extremely valuable in Chicago
• Track which spades have been exposed face-up to know what's still available
• If you catch a high spade face-down late in the hand, consider going for the spade half
• Pairs combined with a high face-down spade are premium starting hands
• Even a small face-down spade can win if all higher spades are exposed
• Be cautious about declaring "both" unless you're confident in both your hand and your spade