• Poker

A Complete Guide to Pineapple Poker – How to Play & Strategy

Pineapple poker adds a unique twist to one of the world’s most popular card games: Texas Hold’em. In this version of the game, players start with an extra hold card. The additional starting card adds new levels of strategy to the game.

In this pineapple poker game guide, I will teach you everything you must know to succeed at this poker game. I analyze the rules, break down the best pineapple poker strategies, and tell you the best poker sites for enjoying this unconventional poker game online.

How to Play Pineapple Poker

Learning how to play pineapple poker is easy, especially if you already know how to play Texas Hold’em. The games have similar rules, making it easy to transition from one to the other.

Game Setup

Setting up a game of pineapple poker is simple. For starters, you need a standard 52-card deck. Ideally, you will have at least three players but no more than 10. 

Once every player has their chips and is ready to play, you can start to deal. The opening deal for each round is where pineapple poker varies the most from traditional Texas Hold’em. Every player gets three-hole cards instead of just two.

Pineapple Poker Discard Rule

Each player starts the round with three hole cards. However, like Texas Hold’em. You are only allowed to have two hole cards when it is time for the flop.

Before placing your pre-flop bets, you must discard one of the cards from your hand. It is important to place your discarded card face down so the other players do not know the card you are throwing away.

Successful poker players use all the information available to them every hand. Knowing the card you threw away can help you assess the strength of your hand as the round goes on.

Betting Rounds

Pineapple poker also borrows the betting rounds from Texas Hold’em. You have four opportunities to bet after discarding your third hold card.

The betting rounds in pineapple poker include:

• Pre-flop betting
• Post-flop betting
• Post-turn betting
• Post-river betting

With only four rounds to bet, you must maximize every opportunity you can to build the pot. The more you build the pot, the bigger your wins will be in the end. 

Winning Hands

The winning hands in pineapple poker are the same as the winning hands in Texas Hold’em. This version of poker uses the standard poker hand rankings as follows:

• Royal flush: A-K-Q-J-10 suited
• Straight flush: five cards in sequential order with the same suit
• Four-of-a-kind: Four of the same card
• Full house: Three-of-a-kind and a pair
• Flush: Five cards of the same suit
• Straight: five cards in sequential order
• Three-of-a-kind: Three of the same card
• Two pair: Two sets of matching cards
• One pair: Two matching cards
• High card: The highest-ranked card in your hand

There are also rankings within each hand combination. For instance, a K-Q-J-10-9 straight beats a 7-6-5-4-3 straight.

Variations of Pineapple Poker

Pineapple poker adds a fun twist to Texas Hold’em. There are three main variations of pineapple poker games for you to try.

Regular Pineapple

The simplest way to enjoy pineapple poker is with the standard version. Players are dealt three cards but must discard a hole card before the flop. The game follows standard Texas Hold’em rules from the flop onward.

Crazy Pineapple

Another way to play pineapple poker is with “crazy pineapple” rules. Like the standard versions, each player starts with three hole cards and must discard one of their starting cards.

However, instead of throwing out a card pre-flop, players do not discard a hole card until after the flop. You discard your extra hole card before the turn and follow standard Texas Hold’em rules for the remainder of the hand.

Lazy Pineapple

If you like the idea of holding onto your third hole card as long as possible, then Lazy Pineapple could be the right game for you.

In this version, players keep all three hole cards through the river. Then, after the final round of betting, players discard one of their hole cards before making their final five-card hand. Keeping all your hole cards until the end creates more chances to form a winning hand.

Open Face Pineapple Poker (OFC Pineapple)

Open Face Pineapple Poker (OFC Pineapple) is much different than other variations of the game. For starters, instead of using Texas Hold’em rules, this version is based on Open Face Chinese Poker.

As a result, players create a 13-card hand instead of a five-card hand. The “pineapple” rule affects the number of cards you get each round. After your five starting cards, you are delta three cards each round instead of one.

Check out our free OFC Pineapple guide to learn more about this style of poker.

Pineapple Poker Strategy – How to Win More Hands

Like any poker game, your pineapple poker strategy will play a significant role in your success. Here are four factors to consider when making your strategy for this card game.  

Choosing the Right Card to Discard

One of the most critical decisions in pineapple poker is which hole card you will discard. If you start with poker pairs or the makings of a straight or flush, then the decision can be easy.

However, knowing what cards to discard when you do not have a great starting combination can be difficult. As a general rule of thumb, keep high cards and connected cards, as they give you the best chance to form a winning hand.

Position Matters

The best way for beginner poker players to improve their game is by mastering their positions at the table. Simply put, it is easier to have a strong hand in a later position than in an early position.

Players in later positions can assess how other players have played their hands. For instance, you get to see how aggressively they bet their hands. Also, with a bit of luck, other players will fold pre-flop, increasing your chances of winning the pot.

The reverse is true for players in an early position. You have less of a chance of making a strong hand, and you have less information about your opponents’ hands at your disposal.

Starting Hand Selection

Recognizing the best starting hands is the key to succeeding with any form of poker, and pineapple poker is no exception. The best starting hands in pineapple poker are:

• Pocket aces with a suited 10
• Pocket aces with a suited 5
• Pocket aces with a suited King

Fives and 10s are essential pieces to high-ranking straights. If you discard one of these cards, you know your opponents’ chances of drawing a straight decrease dramatically. Pocket aces with a suited King allow you to choose between playing your high pair or going for a Royal Flush.

Adjusting to Variants

There is no perfect poker strategy, but the right system can help you succeed more often than not. To get the most out of your strategy, you must adjust it to the poker pineapple rules for the variant you are playing.

For instance, keeping low pocket pairs and hoping to flop a set is a viable strategy. Your odds of flopping the set are higher because everyone starts with three cards instead of two.

On the other hand, if you are playing Crazy Pineapple or Lazy Pineapple, you get to see the flop before discarding any cards. If you do not flop the set, your odds of completing it decrease dramatically. It may be better to fold or discard your low pair after seeing the flop.

Where to Play Pineapple Poker Online

Pineapple poker can be challenging to play online, but it is available in some live poker rooms. For instance, BetOnline and SportsBetting.ag offer pineapple poker games in their windfall poker events.

These sites also offer thrilling casino bonuses for poker players. BetOnline has a 100% poker welcome bonus worth up to $1,000. This bonus also includes eight days of complimentary poker tournament tickets.

SportsBetting also has fantastic bonuses, including a 100% deposit match worth up to $1,000 in poker funds. This promo has complimentary tournament tickets, too, that can help you earn your way into the $100,000 Sunday Showdown tournament.   

Are You Ready to Player Pineapple Poker?

Pineapple poker incorporates an entertaining twist into traditional Texas Hold’em. Players are dealt three cards instead of two, adding a new layer of strategy to one of the most popular poker variants.

Read the guide above to learn more about pineapple poker games. Then, create your BetOnline account to try this version of poker for yourself. Use the code POKER1000 to add up to $1,000 in bonus funds to your bankroll.