Hi folks,

This is my first post in this forum, so forgive me if this has been discussed before. I teach in a small university town and a group of professors and myself play about every week. We play a combination of hold'em, omaha8, stud, and some (I think) really wierd games. About a couple months ago I decided to create our own bad beat jackpot, similar to those of a casino.

The rules were simple: at the beginning of each session, those who want to participate pay $1 that goes into the "jackpot" envelope. (If someone does not want to contribute, that's OK, but then he isn't eligible to win any money if a bad beat occurs.) A bad beat occurs when aces full loses (in hold'em or stud) or four of a kind loses (in Omaha8). Of course, both hole cards have to play. When a bad beat occurs, the loser gets 2/3 of the jackpot money, the winner 1/3.

All the players were very willing to try this when I suggested it and it has really livened up our poker game. Our jackpot is now up to $100.

My questions are:

1. Should I loosen the restrictions for a bad beat? (since it may take years before it is hit.)

2. Have any of you done this before?

3. Any other thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Some things you may not have thought of:

a) Check your local and state laws- the BBJ may make your home game illegal under the laws covering gambling games.

b) "(If someone does not want to contribute, that's OK, but then he isn't eligible to win any money if a bad beat occurs.)"

Just for that session, or EVER? Meaning, I can skip tonight, but six months from now when the jackpot is bigger, I can start with the $1 buy-ins?

c) Can your BBJ be counterfeited? A4 vs. 55 on a AAA45 board, for example... the best quads hand doesn't play, and if the board were AA455 or AA4KK (with opponent KK) the Aces-full wouldn't play either, under the "must use two cards in hand" rule.

Good point, maybe I should require at least one hole card be used.

Thanks for the suggestions!

I like it. Have been looking for a way to build-in jackpots like this... but worried about laws (NJ), so we haven't.


I don't think I'd relax the restrictions, and I'd keep the must use 2 rule. Aces full hand does play as written, but I think the casinos require 1 Ace in hand (to prevent paying out when board has AAA and 2 players have pp. You might add that in...


We've talked about a 'cracked Aces' jackpot, but figure that folks would just c/c with AA hoping to have them cracked. I have played in special casino tourneys where getting busted out with AA gets buy-in back or dinner, but it does require you to get busted out

How does A4 meet the two-card requirement on an AA455 board? Doesn't it have to be "best hand you can make" ?