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Learn to Play Crazy Pineapple

Crazy Pineapple is a poker game you’ll occasionally run across in live poker tournaments and at select online poker rooms. The game is a modified version of Texas Hold’em that allows for a bit more action.

Today, you’ll learn the basics of how to play crazy pineapple along with basic starting hand selection.

How to Play Crazy Pineapple

Crazy Pineapple is a modified version of Texas Hold’em where players start with three hole cards as opposed to two. The game starts like most flop-style games with players posting blinds.

After blinds are posted, players are dealt three hole cards as opposed to two. The extra hole card gives players many more starting hand opportunities and allows players to open their range of hands.

The other big difference between this game and Hold’em happens after the flop. Once flop betting is concluded, players must discard one card. From this point, the game plays exactly like Texas Hold’em.

Basic Hand Selection

When playing Crazy Pineapple, players will need to develop a bit of an Omaha mentality when selecting starting hands. Naturally, you are going to play many of the same hands that you would in Texas Hold’em. If you’re dealt big pairs, you’re going to play them.

However, you are also going to be looking for hands that give you straight and flush chances. For example, you are going to look at more hands such as K-Q-J, 7-8-9, A-2-3, etc.

The top hand is a perfect example of a dangler hand.

Like Omaha, you will be looking for hands where all three cards work together. For example, hands like 4-5-6, 8-9-10, J-Q-K, and similar are great because they produce wrap straight chances. Hands with two suited cards and a card that works with the others, such as As-Kd-9s is a great example. You have a flush chance, some straight chances, and chances to flop high pairs.

Also, similar to Omaha, you want to avoid hands with danglers. Danglers are cards that do not work with the others. A hand like Ks-Qs-3d is an inferior hand as the 3 is a danger and not going to buy you much unless you get lucky and flop two pair or trips.

Picking Which Cards to Discard

The biggest decision you will make in many hands is which card to toss after the flop. In some cases, the choice will be easy. A hand like K-K-10 on a flop of 3-4-8 is an easy decision. However, what if you have a hand like J-Q-K on a flop of A-K-4?
Generally, you are going to stick with the hand that gives you the best chance to win. In our second example, you have a pair of kings or a straight draw. You’re going to keep the K-Q and go with the pair instead of hoping to catch a ten.

Remember, after the flop the game becomes Texas Hold’em. As such, you do not want to stick with risky draws. If this were Omaha and you had three or four cards for the entire hand, there are times chasing draws is the right play. Play the hand as you would in a standard Hold’em game.

The best thing about this game is that it is a Limit poker game. When you play a hand, you don’t have to worry about risking your entire stack. As such, this game will allow you to play a few more speculative hands without wiping out your stack.

You won’t find a ton of Crazy Pineapple games either at live or online casinos, but it is still played. If you are looking for a game with a little more gamble than Texas Hold’em, but don’t want the crazy fluctuations of PLO, then Crazy Pineapple may be for you.

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