Cold Hands Poker (2 player card game)

Objective: Cold Hands Poker is a variation of traditional poker adapted for two players. The objective is to win rounds by having the best hand according to standard poker rankings.

Setup:

1. Use a standard deck of 52 cards.
2. Shuffle the deck and deal five cards to each player.
3. Place the remaining cards face down to form the draw pile.

Gameplay:

1. Player 1’s Turn:

   • Player 1 starts by either drawing a card from the draw pile or picking up the top card from the discard pile.
   • Then, Player 1 has the option to discard a card from their hand face-up onto the discard pile.

2. Player 2’s Turn:

   • Player 2 follows the same process as Player 1, drawing a card and then discarding one if desired.

3. Building Hands:

   • The goal is to create the best poker hand possible with the cards in hand.
   • The standard poker hand rankings apply, with Royal Flush being the highest and High Card being the lowest.

4. Scoring:

   • After both players have discarded, they reveal their hands.
   • The player with the best poker hand wins the round.
   • Assign points to the winner based on the hand:
     • High Card: 1 point
     • One Pair: 2 points
     • Two Pair: 3 points
     • Three of a Kind: 4 points
     • Straight: 5 points
     • Flush: 6 points
     • Full House: 7 points
     • Four of a Kind: 8 points
     • Straight Flush: 9 points
     • Royal Flush: 10 points

5. Winning the Game:

   • Play multiple rounds until one player reaches a predetermined point threshold (e.g., 50 points).
   • The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Adaptation for 2 Players:

• In this adaptation, players take turns drawing and discarding cards to build their poker hands.
• The discard pile serves as a strategic element, as players can choose whether to draw from it or the draw pile.
• Scoring is based on the strength of each player’s hand, with points awarded accordingly.

Summary: Cold Hands Poker has been adapted into a 2 player card game where players strategically build their best poker hands. By modifying the rules and gameplay, Cold Hands Poker provides an entertaining experience for two players.