Objective
Win the pot by holding the highest card at the showdown, or by betting so confidently that everyone else folds first. You know every card in play except the one that matters most, so the game is about reading the table. The cards you can see, and the way other players bet when they look at you, are your only clues.
Setup
Agree on the stakes and have everyone ante into the pot. Chips with no cash value work just as well; the bluffing is the fun.
The dealer deals one card face down to each player. Do not look at your card. Cards rank ace high, then king, queen, jack and down to two.
How to play
On the dealer’s signal, everyone picks up their card without looking at it and holds it against their forehead, face out, so the rest of the table can see it. Keep it there until the hand is over.
There is a single round of betting, starting with the player to the dealer’s left. You may check, bet, call, raise or fold, as in any poker game. Before you act, look at every card around the table and think about what the others are seeing on you.
When the betting is done, the players still in compare cards. You already know theirs; this is the moment you finally see your own. The highest card takes the pot. Then the deal passes to the left and everyone antes again.
- 1Ante and take one card face down without looking
- 2Hold it to your forehead, face out
- 3Bet once around, reading the other cards and the other players
- 4Highest card still in takes the pot
Winning
There are no points. Each hand is settled on its own.
| Situation | Who wins |
|---|---|
| Everyone else folds | The last player in takes the pot without a showdown |
| Showdown | The highest card wins |
| Tie for highest card | Split the pot, unless your table ranks the suits |
Over a session, the winner is simply whoever has the most chips when you stop.
Variations
Ranked suits: spades rank highest, then hearts, diamonds and clubs, so there are never ties. The ace of spades is the best card in the deck.
High-low: the highest and lowest cards split the pot. Now a two on your forehead is not a disaster, and a seven is the worst card to hold.
Party version: play with no stakes at all. Everyone decides at the same moment whether to stay or drop, and among those who stayed, the lowest card takes a point. Fewest points after ten hands wins.
Tips from the table
Bet on what you can see. If every card around the table is low, your card is likely higher. If you see two kings and an ace, be careful.
Count the high cards. Each ace or king showing on someone else’s forehead is one fewer that can be on yours.
Watch how the others bet after they look at you. A quick raise from a player with a middling card often means your card is low. Hesitation can mean the opposite.
Keep a straight face. When you see a strong card on someone, do not react. Your expression is the only extra information they get.
Video Guides Are on the Way
We’re filming Game Guides that walk through full hands at the table, from the deal to the score.
Frequently asked
Can I look at my own card?
No. The whole game depends on you not knowing it. If you see it by accident, say so, and the fair fix is a redeal.
Is Indian Poker the same as Blind Man’s Bluff?
Yes, they are two names for the same game. You will also hear it called Forehead Poker.
Is the ace high or low?
High. The ace is the best card and the two is the worst.
How many betting rounds are there?
One. Ante, cards up, bet once around the table, then show down.
New rules every month
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