Seven and a Half - Pot Game

Players & Funds
500 500 500 500

    Funds:    Pot:

Dealer's Cards:

Dealer's Score:
Your Cards:

Your Score:



How the Pot Game is played

This version of Seven and Half simulates an exciting gambling game. The demonstration allows 4 players who each compete against the 'House' Dealer. There is a pot from which winnings are taken. Losing bets are also accumulated in the pot. Each of the players compete against the dealer, in turn for one or more hands of Seven and a Half. The players do not compete with each other.

To play with a group of up to four people, start by choosing one of the animal icons as your identity. Each player starts with 500 chips and there is 500 chips in the pot. The group needs to decide how many hands each player will play for their turn.

Then, the first player is selected. They are dealt their first card. They can make their only bet on the first card. The player can decide to 'Hit' and get one or more extra cards. the aim is to get as close to 7 1/2 points without exceeding it. When satisfied, the player clicks the 'Stand' button and the dealer plays their hand. If the player busts or loses their bet is deposited in the Pot. If the player wins, their winnings are taken from the pot.

Each player plays the number of hands specified. The object of the game is to accumulate all the chips in the pot and to see their fellow competitors lose all their chips. The other outcome is that the Dealer takes the pot when none of the players has enough funds to continue.

The Ultimate Gambling Card Game

The demonstration about is the pre-cursor to what many people regard as the Ultimate Gambling Card Game, played around a table with friends.

This is how it is played:

Choose a DEALER (who has a special role, and and special way of winning that is explained later). Each player has to add an agreed amount to the POT at the start of each DEAL. Each player is dealt 1 card face-down by the DEALER who also deals himself 1 card, face-down. Each of the players picks up their cards.

The DEALER plays with each of the players in the game in sequence around the table. The first player can ask for a replacement of the one card they were originally dealt, or keep their card. After the swap the first player makes his or her bet. There is only one bet at the start of the play, based on the one card in each players hand. The bet can be any amount up to the total size of the POT. If the player bets the POT and wins he collects all the POT and he becomes the DEALER for the next round of the game. If the player wins he takes the amount bet from the POT. If the player loses he adds the amount bet to the POT.

Each player can then ask for another card ('Hit'), and another etc. until they are satisfied and say 'Stand'. If the players cards go over 'Seven and a Half' they have BUSTED and their bet is added to the POT, and the DEALER moves on to play with the next player.

If the player has not busted, the DEALER turns over his or her card. All the DEALER's cards are shown face-up. The DEALER can add one or more cards until the cards are as close to "Seven and a Half' without exceeding it. The DEALER then says "PAY Seven" or whatever the score which is half above the DEALER's score of cards (in this case 6 1/2). If there is a tie the DEALER wins, and so the extra 1/2 is added. If the DEALER busts the player wins and collects his or her bet from the pot.

After dealing with the first player, the played cards are gathered together, and added to the bottom of the pack face-up (this is very important for knowing when all of the pack has been played).

The DEALER then moves on to play with the next player in turn. If the DEALER as no cards in front of them, he or she deals himself one card face down. If the previous player has busted before the DEALER has to play his or her card, the dealer card will already be there face-down.

When all of the players have played in turn, the DEALER starts the next round - still using the same pack. At the start of each round all the players contribute a small amount to the POT. If a face-up card appears at the top of the pack, the DEALER shuffles the pack and starts again.

What is the role of the dealer?

This is where the game gets very interesting!

At the start of the game the players decide how many times through the pack will be completed before the DEALER wins everything that remains in the POT. At the end of say 10-20 cycles through the pack, when the cards run out the dealer can claim whatever is in the POT.

The number of cycles will depend on the number of players, their stakes and how large the POT the group decides it can become. In most game the POT can get very large very quickly. Once is has grown it is risky to try to recover your stakes with large bets.

The dealer is required to let all the players know how many times through the pack has been completed and when only 10 cards remain in the last run through the pack before the DEALER wins the POT. It is obvious that as this point gets closer and closer, the tension will build as their is so much to win or lose!. None of the DEALER's money is in the POT and yet, he of she can win it ALL!

The POT is the key to the tension and gambling pressure in the game. As it gets larger and larger, the bets will increase. Players know how much of their money is in the POT and they want to win it back.

Being the DEALER is a wonderful advantage and is the way to make a lot of money. You can only become the DEALER by betting the POT and winning the hand.

Why is it Such a Good Game?

It is a fantastic bluffing and bidding game because the dealer plays with each player in turn, who have their own strategy and 'Stand' limits.

As the pot builds and it gets closer to the time when the DEALER 'takes All' - the tension builds and players become more daring.

The pot can build dramatically in a short period of time.