Game Setup
Each player starts the game with enough clothes to be comfortable. If a player does not have enough clothes, the host/hostess should provide them with additional hats, scarves, or drinks so that they feel comfortable playing. Once you start playing you cannot add more clothes.
Each player begins with two chips.
The host should provide players with a towel to sit on and/or wear if they need to leave the game area temporarily.
No photography is allowed.
The game area should be divided from the non-game area and there should be no uncovered windows allowing non-players to peek. There is no watching allowed! You must either be playing or outside the game area. Even if everyone at the party says they will play, there must be a non-game area due to the Opt Out rule.
Turn the heat up or bring in a space heater. Shivering is not fun and some people get colder easier than others.
The poker hand ranking rules follow the standard 5-card poker rules which can be found on the internet, in books on card games, and often inside decks of cards labeled “Poker Cards.” The host or somebody playing will know all the rules for resolving ties. See the tips section later.
Use a standard 52 card deck. For faster play have two decks with different colored backs and alternate dealing.
Opt Out
Nobody can be forced to play and any player may decide at any time that the game has gone beyond their comfort level and leave the play area. Other players must respect this and be supportive. Saying “oh come on!” or “don’t be a prude” is not allowed!
Play Progresses
The dealer deals 5 cards to each player, and beginning with the player on their left, each player declares whether they will play or fold. If they decide to fold they give one chip to the bank. If a player does not have enough chips, they must play.
The dealer asks each player who has decided to play how many cards they wish to discard and draw. When all players are ready with their new cards, starting with the player to the left of the dealer each player remaining states whether they wish to continue or fold now. If they decide to fold now they give two chips to the bank. If a player does not have enough chips, they must continue to play.
There is no “pot” in the middle, but the middle can be used as the bank.
All players who have elected to play reveal their hands (this is called the showdown), losers must remove an article of clothing. All players in the showdown receive chips to restore their holdings back up to two chips. Players can never have more than two chips. Players can always keep one article of clothing on. A player who cannot remove an article of clothing because he is already naked, must pay a penalty described below.
If there is only one player remaining, there is no showdown and that player does not receive any new chips.
The deal rotates to the player on the left and a new hand is dealt. When you are the dealer you are in charge. Remember to ask people how many cards they want and to call for the showdown.
What is a "piece of clothing"
Don't be restrictive here. If a player wants to count their wedding ring or one earring as a "piece" let them. It's up to each player what counts as a piece.
Game End
Players should decide if the game ends when all players have run out of clothes, when all players have paid a penalty, when all the penalties have been exhausted, or other criteria of their choosing. When asked "who is the winner?" I respond "Everyone is the winner in Strip Poker!"
Penalties
When a player has lost all their clothing they can continue to play, but now substitute paying penalties instead of removing clothing. Penalties should be decided upon before the game starts. This is where the real fun starts!! It’s also where the host/hostess can show some creativity by inventing a variety of penalties which guests draw from a hat. Penalties should be fun, short, and within your group’s bounds of decency (however wide that may be). Some sample penalties are given in another posting on this site.
I Gotta Go
If someone needs to leave the game temporarily to go the bathroom, take an important phone call, etc. they can wrap up in their towel and leave the game area. Play continues, but keep track of how many hands the player missed by using markers or cards. When the player returns they must pay the amount in chips. Articles of clothing count as 3 chips. For example, a player missing 5 rounds who has 1 chip, returns, and removes two articles of clothing and receives 1 chip in change.
House Rules
Clapping, Cheering, and Chanting a player’s name is encouraged. Be encouraging and complimentary. Pay attention when a player is performing a penalty – they are performing for you and nothing is more insulting than to have someone more interested in shuffling cards or whispering with their neighbor.
Remember the Opt Out rule. Players can quit at any time – for example after reading what their penalty is..
Variations
People love to add wild cards, but why play the same old way as regular poker? Here are some theme variations. Do not add any variations until you have played at least a dozen hands. I highly recommend the Jack Be Nimble rule. It is easy to understand, creates great interactions between players, and helps level the playing field.
Jack Be Nimble, Jack be Slick – Any player in the showdown who has at least one natural jack (not a wildcard) may talk any other player into removing an article of clothing. That player must oblige.
Double Trouble – After receiving cards but before the showdown, any player still in the hand can call “Double Trouble.” Players can fold now and remove an article of clothing (and go back up to 2 chips) or continue to the showdown. Losers in the showdown must remove two articles of clothing. Players not in the showdown can chant “double trouble… double trouble…” to encourage raising of the stakes! This is a good way to bluff because you might scare the others into folding and thus avoid a showdown.
I like Girls (aka I like Boys) – If you are a girl call this “I like boys” and if you are a boy call this “I like girls.” Try to make it sound convincing! If you are a girl then kings are wild and queens are worthless or “icky.” If you are a boy then queens are wild and kings are “icky”. The icky cards do not help in any way. It is like you only had 4 cards – a straight or flush is not possible if you have any icky cards. You can not have a pair of icky cards either – they do not help in ANY way.
Alternate to first round bidding
Instead of going around the circle asking each player if they will play, each player holds their cards a little above the table and on the count of three either drops them or continues to hold them. A player who drops is folding and pays their chip to the bank and a player who holds their cards is playing. If all players drop their cards (everyone folded) the cards are revealed and the highest hand must remove an article of clothing. The other players do not have to pay their chip to the bank.
Tips for first time players
Hand Rank
Straight-flush (5 cards in sequence and suited e.g. 9♣, 8♣,7♣,6♣,5♣)
4-of-a-kind (e.g. 9,9,9,9,x)
Full house (3-of-a-kind and 2-of-a-kind e.g. 9,9,9,Q,Q)
Flush (5 cards suited e.g. A♣,J♣,8♣,3♣,2♣)
Straight (5 cards in sequence, suits do not match e.g. 9,8,7,6,5)
3-of-a-kind (e.g. 9,9,9,x,x)
2 pair (e.g. K,K,9,9,x)
1 pair (e.g 9,9,x,x,x)
Garbage (cards do not match any of the hands above)
Remember it is the kind of hand that is the most important when determining who wins, not how “good” each individual card is. A hand like A♣,K♣,Q♣,9♥,8♠ looks good with those matching royal cards, but it is garbage and will lose to a pair of 2’s.
There is no “partial credit.” you must match the whole hand type. Beginners often are excited to have 4 cards of the same suit or 4 cards in sequence, but that hand is actually garbage.
Just about half the opening hands dealt will be garbage. If you are at a table of six players, assume 3 of them will have a pair or better. Do you have a pair? If not, you are very likely to lose this hand.
Notice that because you must pay to fold, you will have to play at least every third hand.
Do not be afraid to pay two chips in the second round if you suspect you are going to lose - it is better to take a chance on the next hand than to lose in this round.
Tips to the Host
Email people a copy of these rules and 2-3 of the penalties so they get the idea - but keep the rest secret for more fun. Remember, they don't have to play and they can quit at any time. It is more respectful of your guests (especially the girls) to give them advanced warning. You don't want someone thinking to themselves "oh my god, I didn't shave my armpits this morning!" Plus, this will give people an excuse to wear their sexy (or funny) undies and multiple layers.
Although it sounds like it is against the point, playing at a wood table works really well. The shyest players can then psyche themselves up for performing their penalty knowing that in the end they can retreat to the safety of the table. Same thing for the single piece of clothing rule - people are more likely to play and have fun. Don't worry that you are going to miss out... you are going to have a hoot and you'll be surprised at how people get less conservative as the night goes on!
