Played this game a lot and thought I would pass it on.
I'll give you the readers digest version first. Each person gets dealt 5 cards, these cards equate to balls. When a ball is pocketed you turn over the card in your hand that corresponds. First one to turn over all their cards wins a leg. Highest poker wins a leg. Get to the designated amount of legs and you win the cash. Complete rules below.
Poker Pool Rules
No. of players: 3 – 8; if 9+ people, use 2 decks of cards.
Things needed to play: pool table, 15 object balls & cue ball, cue, 1 deck of cards including 2 jokers, money, kitty jar / pot, players
Object: Win the pot o’ money by wining the poker hand and pool game in the same round (3 players) or collecting the designated amounts of “legs” (4 + players). In the event of a tie in collecting legs, the pot o’ money is split into equal parts to all tying players.
The pool game is won by being the first player to turn over and show all cards in their poker hand. Cards are turned over by the corresponding ball being pocketed. 1 is Ace, 2 is 2, so on until 11 which is Jack, 12 is Queen, 13 is King and the 14 & 15 are jokers. Designate a “little” joker to be the 14 and a “big” joker to be the 15.
The poker hand is won by having the highest poker hand of all cards in hand (turned over or not).
A leg (applies to 4 or more players) is won by winning a pool game, a poker hand or by pocketing BOTH the 14 and 15 balls on the break. These balls should be right behind where an eight ball would be for 8 ball. If both the pool game and poker hand are won in the same round by the same player, a bonus leg is awarded to that player for a total of 3 legs won for that round. The number of legs designated to win the kitty / pot o’ money can be decided between the players. Typical number of legs is 3, but can be changed to any unanimously agreeable number.
Starting the game: Each player cuts the deck to select a card and then returns all cards to the deck. Player with the high card shoots first, i.e. breaks, next highest racks, and progressive order for shooters until the lowest card who is the last player and is the player who deals. In the event of the same value card, e.g. two Jacks, suit will determine order by Spades (highest), Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs (lowest). 5 cards are dealt to each player in the order of play. Every player annies the designated denomination of bet, e.g. quarter / $0.25.
The Rack: 2nd highest poker hand racks. Use standard triangle format for 15 balls, placement of balls does not matter (racker’s choice)with 14 and 15 exception. The rack should be set up after the deal and the player who is racking should not look at their hand prior to the set up of the race. Likewise, the player who is dealing should not shuffle after the rack is set up. This is to avoid any potential act of cheating being construed.
The Break: If any ball(s) are made on the break, that ball / card is wild. Any player who has the matching card to the pocketed ball from the break turns the card in their hand over so that it is face up (and remains up for the duration of the game). For example, the 4 ball is pocketed on the break. 4’s are wild in this round. Any player with a 4 in their hand turns over all 4’s in their hand and they are wild for each respective player. If the 14 or 15 are pocketed on the break, all players receive an additional card for their poker hand (and must still turn over all cards in their hand to win the pool game). The respective joker is also turned over in any players’ hand that holds it.
Wild Card rule(optional): If four balls are pocketed during the same shooters turn, the shooter has the option of cutting the deck for a wild card. This does not include the break and it does not matter how many shots it takes to pocket the balls. If the cut card is already wild, no re-cut is done, the wild card just remains wild. If the fourth ball pocketed is the shooters last card ar any other players last card, the shooter still has option to cut for wild. It is permissible for the shooter to wait for the card/ball reveal prior to making the decision to cut. The poker hand is then revealed for leg winning and next game line up. If the shooter misses the opportunity to cut after the fourth ball, the option to cut is forfeited.
Scratch: If you scratch on the break, any balls pocketed are returned to the table and placed on the head spot (or closest possible position to head spot). This is the only time the ball(s) will be replaced on the table. During regular play any balls pocketed remain down / cards turned face up and the turn goes to the next player. Any balls spotted are NOT wild and do not get turned over in players hands. If you scratch on the break, the next player must place the cue ball “in the kitchen”. Any other time, the cue ball is “ball in hand” to the next player. You can not win the pool game when your last card / ball is pocketed and the shot results in a scratch. The numbered ball stays down, the card is turned over and the pool game is over; however no leg (4 player) is awarded and no “win” is collected towards winning the kitty / pot o’ money (3 players) for the shooter.
The Pool Game: BCA rules apply to shooting the pool game, except that calling ball in pocket is not necessary and slop counts. Also, since there are no designated “stripes” or “solids”, a legal shot is executed by making contact with any ball and then any ball hitting a rail (including the cue ball) or any ball, except the cue ball, being pocketed. The pool game is over when all cards in one player’s hand are turned over.
If you pocket the 14 (little joker) or 15 (big joker), the respective jokers are turned over and the shooter receives an extra card, unless you scratch, in which case the ball stays down, the card is turned over but no extra card is drawn. Similar to receiving an extra card on the break, the player must still turn over all cards in their hand to win the pool game. If the 14 or 15 ball puts a player (other than the shooter) out of face-down cards, the shooter still receives the extra card before the pool game is declared over.
In the event of simultaneous “winning” of the pool game, i.e. 2 or more players turn over their last card at the last pocketing of a ball, the pool game goes to the shooter. If the shooter is not one of the players who has “tied” by turning their last card over, there is no pool game winner and no leg awarded for the pool game or for high poker hand. The round is forfeited, everyone re-annies and play continues.
Once the pool game is over, the poker hands are revealed. Highest poker hand wins and also establishes order of players for the next round. In order to get a leg by high poker hand, you must first establish a pool game winner, so if there is no pool game winner, there is no poker hand winner.
Each time the kitty / pot o’ money is won and/or a new player enters the game; a re-cut of the deck for player order is done. New players are only allowed to enter at the start of a new game.
I'll give you the readers digest version first. Each person gets dealt 5 cards, these cards equate to balls. When a ball is pocketed you turn over the card in your hand that corresponds. First one to turn over all their cards wins a leg. Highest poker wins a leg. Get to the designated amount of legs and you win the cash. Complete rules below.
Poker Pool Rules
No. of players: 3 – 8; if 9+ people, use 2 decks of cards.
Things needed to play: pool table, 15 object balls & cue ball, cue, 1 deck of cards including 2 jokers, money, kitty jar / pot, players
Object: Win the pot o’ money by wining the poker hand and pool game in the same round (3 players) or collecting the designated amounts of “legs” (4 + players). In the event of a tie in collecting legs, the pot o’ money is split into equal parts to all tying players.
The pool game is won by being the first player to turn over and show all cards in their poker hand. Cards are turned over by the corresponding ball being pocketed. 1 is Ace, 2 is 2, so on until 11 which is Jack, 12 is Queen, 13 is King and the 14 & 15 are jokers. Designate a “little” joker to be the 14 and a “big” joker to be the 15.
The poker hand is won by having the highest poker hand of all cards in hand (turned over or not).
A leg (applies to 4 or more players) is won by winning a pool game, a poker hand or by pocketing BOTH the 14 and 15 balls on the break. These balls should be right behind where an eight ball would be for 8 ball. If both the pool game and poker hand are won in the same round by the same player, a bonus leg is awarded to that player for a total of 3 legs won for that round. The number of legs designated to win the kitty / pot o’ money can be decided between the players. Typical number of legs is 3, but can be changed to any unanimously agreeable number.
Starting the game: Each player cuts the deck to select a card and then returns all cards to the deck. Player with the high card shoots first, i.e. breaks, next highest racks, and progressive order for shooters until the lowest card who is the last player and is the player who deals. In the event of the same value card, e.g. two Jacks, suit will determine order by Spades (highest), Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs (lowest). 5 cards are dealt to each player in the order of play. Every player annies the designated denomination of bet, e.g. quarter / $0.25.
The Rack: 2nd highest poker hand racks. Use standard triangle format for 15 balls, placement of balls does not matter (racker’s choice)with 14 and 15 exception. The rack should be set up after the deal and the player who is racking should not look at their hand prior to the set up of the race. Likewise, the player who is dealing should not shuffle after the rack is set up. This is to avoid any potential act of cheating being construed.
The Break: If any ball(s) are made on the break, that ball / card is wild. Any player who has the matching card to the pocketed ball from the break turns the card in their hand over so that it is face up (and remains up for the duration of the game). For example, the 4 ball is pocketed on the break. 4’s are wild in this round. Any player with a 4 in their hand turns over all 4’s in their hand and they are wild for each respective player. If the 14 or 15 are pocketed on the break, all players receive an additional card for their poker hand (and must still turn over all cards in their hand to win the pool game). The respective joker is also turned over in any players’ hand that holds it.
Wild Card rule(optional): If four balls are pocketed during the same shooters turn, the shooter has the option of cutting the deck for a wild card. This does not include the break and it does not matter how many shots it takes to pocket the balls. If the cut card is already wild, no re-cut is done, the wild card just remains wild. If the fourth ball pocketed is the shooters last card ar any other players last card, the shooter still has option to cut for wild. It is permissible for the shooter to wait for the card/ball reveal prior to making the decision to cut. The poker hand is then revealed for leg winning and next game line up. If the shooter misses the opportunity to cut after the fourth ball, the option to cut is forfeited.
Scratch: If you scratch on the break, any balls pocketed are returned to the table and placed on the head spot (or closest possible position to head spot). This is the only time the ball(s) will be replaced on the table. During regular play any balls pocketed remain down / cards turned face up and the turn goes to the next player. Any balls spotted are NOT wild and do not get turned over in players hands. If you scratch on the break, the next player must place the cue ball “in the kitchen”. Any other time, the cue ball is “ball in hand” to the next player. You can not win the pool game when your last card / ball is pocketed and the shot results in a scratch. The numbered ball stays down, the card is turned over and the pool game is over; however no leg (4 player) is awarded and no “win” is collected towards winning the kitty / pot o’ money (3 players) for the shooter.
The Pool Game: BCA rules apply to shooting the pool game, except that calling ball in pocket is not necessary and slop counts. Also, since there are no designated “stripes” or “solids”, a legal shot is executed by making contact with any ball and then any ball hitting a rail (including the cue ball) or any ball, except the cue ball, being pocketed. The pool game is over when all cards in one player’s hand are turned over.
If you pocket the 14 (little joker) or 15 (big joker), the respective jokers are turned over and the shooter receives an extra card, unless you scratch, in which case the ball stays down, the card is turned over but no extra card is drawn. Similar to receiving an extra card on the break, the player must still turn over all cards in their hand to win the pool game. If the 14 or 15 ball puts a player (other than the shooter) out of face-down cards, the shooter still receives the extra card before the pool game is declared over.
In the event of simultaneous “winning” of the pool game, i.e. 2 or more players turn over their last card at the last pocketing of a ball, the pool game goes to the shooter. If the shooter is not one of the players who has “tied” by turning their last card over, there is no pool game winner and no leg awarded for the pool game or for high poker hand. The round is forfeited, everyone re-annies and play continues.
Once the pool game is over, the poker hands are revealed. Highest poker hand wins and also establishes order of players for the next round. In order to get a leg by high poker hand, you must first establish a pool game winner, so if there is no pool game winner, there is no poker hand winner.
Each time the kitty / pot o’ money is won and/or a new player enters the game; a re-cut of the deck for player order is done. New players are only allowed to enter at the start of a new game.