How to Play High Chicago
High Chicago is a friendly stud-poker variant that mixes normal poker hands with a special prize for the highest spade. Read this to learn the basic loop, then try a few practice hands with friends. For more casual guides and other game help, visit Playmore.
Quick facts
| Game | Type | Typical players | Deck | Beginner focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Chicago | North American home stud poker | 2–8 | Full normal 52-card deck | Seven-card stud where the highest spade in the final hand shares the pot with the best poker hand |
What you are trying to do
Your main goal is to win (or split) the pot. One half of the pot goes to the best poker hand at showdown. The other half goes to the player who holds the single highest spade in their finished seven-card hand. Exact tie and eligibility rules can vary by group.
What you need and how to set up
All you need is a normal 52-card deck, chips or tokens for betting, and a table. Deal one player as dealer; pass the dealer button clockwise after each hand. Decide before you start whether you will use antes, a bring-in, or blinds and what betting limits apply. These betting details are version-dependent, so agree them with your group first.
How to play
- Collect antes or post the agreed bring-in. Shuffle the full 52-card deck and let the dealer deal the initial cards.
- Each player gets a mix of face-down and face-up cards over several deals until everyone has seven cards in total. In stud poker, some cards are dealt face-up so others can see part of your hand.
- After the initial deal and after each subsequent deal, hold a betting round. Players may fold, call, or raise according to your agreed betting rules.
- Continue dealing and betting until each active player has seven cards (a mix of up and down). Keep bets in the pot during the hand.
- At the final betting round, remaining players show their full seven-card hands. Determine the best poker hand using standard poker rankings. Also identify the single highest spade held by any player in their final seven cards.
- Split the pot as your rules specify: commonly, one share to the best poker hand and one share to the highest spade (High Chicago). If one player has both, that player may take the full pot depending on house rules.
- Move the dealer and play the next hand.
How a round or game ends
A round ends at the showdown when players reveal hands and the pot is awarded. A full game can end when players reach a preset time, chip goal, or number of hands. Agree the finish condition before you start.
Beginner tips
- Practice a few hands just to get used to the face-up/face-down dealing and the betting rounds.
- Watch the up-cards. They give you clues about opponents' likely hands and whether they might hold a high spade.
- Decide the betting structure before you begin—fixed limit, pot limit, or no-limit change how aggressively you should play.
- Protect your hole cards. In some versions the Chicago prize goes to a face-down spade only, so cover your cards if your group uses that rule.
- If you win both the best hand and the high spade, clarify with your group whether you get the whole pot or both shares count as one award.
- Play short chips at first to keep the game moving and reduce pressure.
FAQ
Is High Chicago a type of stud poker?
Yes. It follows the general stud structure where players receive a mix of face-up and face-down cards over several betting rounds until everyone has seven cards.
How exactly is the Chicago half-pot awarded?
The half-pot goes to the player holding the single highest spade in their final seven-card hand. Some groups require the spade to be face-down; other groups accept any high spade. Check your group's version before you play.
What happens if two players have the same highest spade?
Tie-breaking is version-dependent. Many groups split the Chicago share between tied players, but some use suits or kicker rules. Agree your tie rules ahead of time.
Groups should check the authoritative or regional rules for exact dealing, betting, and Chicago-award details before playing.