Poker Run Card Draw & Scoring Rules | PokerRun.org

At each card stop, every active hand receives one playing card from its assigned shuffled deck. After all card stops, all hands compete on one leaderboard using standard poker rankings.

The basics

Events use exactly 5 or 7 card stops for official scoring.
One card per card stop, per hand.
5 stops: score those 5 cards. 7 stops: best 5-card hand from your 7 cards.
Non-card stops (registration, lunch, etc.) do not deal cards.

Opening the run

Before ride day check-in, the organizer opens the run. The system creates hands for confirmed registrations, builds one shuffled 52-card deck for every six hands, assigns each hand to a deck in registration order, and locks the hand count.

required decks = ceil(active hands ÷ 6)

How draws work

Each hand draws only from its assigned deck — up to six hands share one shuffled pack. When you check in at a stop, the server assigns the next available card from that deck. Cards are not chosen by riders or staff.

Shuffle once — at open run, not before every draw.
No double draw — checking in again at the same stop returns the same card.
One leaderboard — all riders compete together; decks are for fair card supply, not separate tables.
Server authority — mobile apps display results; they do not deal cards locally.

Multiple hands & multiple decks

Hands are assigned to decks in registration purchase order — up to six hands per deck. If you bought three hands early in the signup list, all three may share one deck. If your hands fall across a deck boundary, they may use two decks.

Within one deck, a hand cannot receive the same card twice. Different hands (or different decks) may still show the same rank and suit — that is normal with separate standard decks.

Scoring

Hands are ranked from strongest to weakest: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, High Card.

Ace-high straights (A-K-Q-J-10) and the wheel (A-2-3-4-5) are supported.

Fairness

Each deck order is fixed when the run opens.
Concurrent check-ins are handled safely so two hands never receive the same physical card.
Organizers and staff can review an audit log of deck generation and card draws.
Organizers finalize scores when results are official.

Common questions

Can I pick my card?

No. The next card from your hand's assigned deck is dealt automatically when you check in at a card stop.

Am I only playing against five other riders?

No. Decks group up to six hands for card supply, but the leaderboard ranks every hand in the event together.

Does it shuffle before each draw?

No. Decks are shuffled once when the organizer opens the run. Each check-in takes the next card in that deck's pre-set order.

Who can open the run?

The organization owner (or PokerRun.org staff). Opening generates hands, decks, and assignments, and enables check-in for card stops.

How cards, decks, and scoring work