Scarney is a 2–6 player, 6-hole-card, two-board game. Any hole card that matches a rank on the bottom board must be discarded. High uses regular poker hands. Low is the point total of the cards you still hold (face cards are 10, aces are 1).
This page is the short version: setup, the discard rule, scoring, and FAQ. The illustrated walkthrough is in Japanese: Scarney rules (full). Japanese short version: スカーニーのルール.
Scarney setup (players and cards)
- Players: 2–6 (4–6 plays best)
- Hole cards: 6 each
- Boards: 6 on top, 6 on the bottom (flop 3+3, turn 2+2, river 1+1)
- Deck: 52 cards, no jokers
- Betting: fixed-limit is the usual structure
The two differences from Hold’em are the two boards and the rule that matching the bottom board means you must discard.
↑ Example: six hole cards
Matching the bottom board means you discard
When the bottom board is dealt, put every hole card of those ranks onto the bottom board. All of them. Ranks on the top board stay in your hand.
↑ Flop. The bottom board shows A and 2, so any ace or deuce in your hand is discarded
Ranks on the bottom board cannot make a high hand. Dumping high cards leaves you a stronger low. Whether you play for high or low is decided by what is left in your hand.
High and low in Scarney
High is the same ladder as Hold’em. Combine your remaining hole cards with the top board. There is no “must use two” rule.
Low is the smaller point total of the cards you still hold. Face cards count 10. Aces count 1.
| Cards left | Points | Low |
|---|---|---|
| A♦ (1) | 1 | Best |
| 3♠ (3) and 4♣ (4) | 7 | Strong |
| K♥ (10) | 10 | Weak |
If high and low go to different players, they chop the pot.
FAQ
Six hole cards, two boards, forced discards against the bottom board, and both a high and a low winner.
No. It only forces discards and affects the low point total.
No. Zero hole cards plus five from the top board is legal. One hole card is legal too.
Two is enough. Four to six is the comfortable range. Seven or more runs out of cards.
Remember four things: six hole cards, two boards, discard ranks that hit the bottom board, and high plus low.
Illustrated walkthrough (Japanese): What is Scarney?. Same page in Japanese: スカーニーのルール.
