ranah's guts

The best poker variation I have learned in a long time.

Everyone antes and is dealt three cards. They examine their cards and silently decide whether to fold or hold. No betting occurs. Everyone holds out their cards, face down, towards the center of the table. Simultaneously (on the count of three) everyone either drops their hands (to fold) or doesn't (to hold).

The twist is: if you hold and lose, you must double the pot at once. If three people stay in, two lost so the pot triples. Everyone (even those who folded) plays again with the new pot. Play continues until only one person has the GUTS to stay in. They claim the entire pot. If everyone "folds" on a given round, play continues with a new round (after perhaps with a small ante).

Since everyone only has three cards, pairs and three of a kinds are possible, but neither flushes nor straights.