Quarterback Poker (2 player card game)

Objective: The objective of the card game “Quarterback Poker” is to score the most points by forming poker hands with the cards dealt.

Adaptation for 2 Players: “Quarterback Poker” is typically played with multiple players, but it can be adapted for 2 players. In the adapted version, each player competes against each other, aiming to score more points by forming better poker hands.

Setup:

1. Use a standard 52-card deck.
2. Shuffle the deck thoroughly and determine who will start as player 1 and player 2.
3. Deal 5 cards to each player, one at a time, face-down.
4. Place the remaining deck face-down in the center of the table as the draw pile.
5. Flip the top card of the draw pile face-up next to it to start the discard pile.

Scoring:

• The scoring in “Quarterback Poker” is based on the standard poker hands, ranked from highest to lowest: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, High Card.
• Each player’s hand is scored according to the highest-ranking poker hand they can form with their cards.
• The player with the highest-ranking hand scores points based on the following:
  • Royal Flush: 100 points
  • Straight Flush: 75 points
  • Four of a Kind: 50 points
  • Full House: 25 points
  • Flush: 20 points
  • Straight: 15 points
  • Three of a Kind: 10 points
  • Two Pair: 5 points
  • One Pair: 2 points
  • High Card: 1 point
• If both players have the same hand, the tiebreaker can be determined by the highest-ranking card or by comparing the next highest cards.

Gameplay:

1. Starting Player:
   • Player 1 begins the game.
2. Taking Turns:
   • On their turn, a player must start by drawing a card.
   • They can draw either the top card from the draw pile or the top card from the discard pile.
   • After drawing, the player may choose to form a poker hand with their cards and/or discard one card onto the discard pile.
3. Forming Poker Hands:
   • Players can arrange their cards to form poker hands such as pairs, three of a kind, flushes, straights, etc.
   • Players aim to create the highest-ranking hand possible to score more points.
4. Discarding:
   • At the end of their turn, players must discard one card onto the discard pile.
5. End of the Round:
   • The round ends when one player forms a poker hand or when both players agree to end the round.
   • Players reveal their hands and score points based on the highest-ranking hand.
6. Starting a New Round:
   • After scoring, start a new round with the player who didn’t start the previous round.

Differentiating Turns:

• Player 1’s Turn: Player 1 starts the game and takes the first turn, drawing, forming poker hands, and discarding.
• Player 2’s Turn: Player 2 follows after Player 1’s turn, taking subsequent turns in the same manner.

Summary: “Quarterback Poker” has been adapted into an exciting 2 player card game where players compete to score points by forming poker hands with the cards dealt to them. With strategic gameplay and scoring based on poker hand rankings, players aim to outplay their opponent and accumulate the most points. Adapted for 2 players, the game offers an enjoyable experience for two participants, combining elements of skill and luck in a competitive setting.