If you already know Texas Hold’em, Crazy Pineapple will feel familiar — with one fun twist.
Crazy Pineapple is a variation of Texas Hold’em where you start with an extra card, but you don’t get to keep it for long. This guide explains the rules simply, so you can jump in and play confidently without worrying about messing anything up.
If you understand Hold’em basics, you’re already most of the way there.
What Is Crazy Pineapple Poker?
Crazy Pineapple poker is a popular poker variant often played in home games, friendly tournaments, and poker apps. It’s known for being fast, fun, and slightly more action-packed than standard Texas Hold’em.
Like Hold’em, Crazy Pineapple uses:
- Community cards
- Multiple betting rounds
- Standard poker hand rankings
The key difference is how many cards you start with — and when you have to let one go.
Media Suggestion:
Side-by-side visual showing Texas Hold’em (2 cards) vs Crazy Pineapple (3 cards).
How Crazy Pineapple Is Different From Texas Hold’em
This is the most important thing to understand.
In Crazy Pineapple:
- Each player is dealt three hole cards, not two
- After the flop, each player must discard one card
- The rest of the hand is played exactly like Texas Hold’em
That’s it.
This one rule changes everything — but it’s easy once you see it in action.
Because players start with an extra card, more hands connect with the flop. That means more action, more interesting decisions, and more fun.
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Timeline graphic showing: Deal 3 cards → Flop → Discard 1 → Play like Hold’em.
The Goal of Crazy Pineapple
The goal of Crazy Pineapple is the same as Texas Hold’em.
You win a hand by:
- Making the best five-card poker hand, or
- Getting all other players to fold
The twist isn’t the goal — it’s how you get there.
What You Need to Play Crazy Pineapple
Players & Cards
Crazy Pineapple is typically played with:
- 2 to 10 players
- A standard 52-card deck
Each player begins the hand with three private cards.
Chips & Table Setup
Crazy Pineapple uses chips and table layouts identical to Texas Hold’em.
- Circular table
- Betting moves clockwise
- Same positions and flow
If you’ve played Hold’em before, nothing here is new.
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Overhead table layout with three hole cards per player.
Blinds & Dealer Button
The blinds and dealer button work exactly the same way as in Texas Hold’em.
- The dealer button marks position
- The small blind and big blind are posted before cards are dealt
- The button moves one seat after each hand
Blinds keep the game moving and create action.
How a Hand of Crazy Pineapple Works
The structure of a hand closely follows Texas Hold’em, with one extra step added after the flop.
Media Suggestion:
Flowchart labeled: Deal → Preflop → Flop → Discard → Turn → River → Showdown.
Step 1 – Dealing the Hole Cards (3 Cards)
Each player is dealt three cards face down. These are your hole cards, and only you can see them.
At this point, you don’t discard anything yet.
Step 2 – Preflop Betting
The first betting round happens before any community cards are revealed.
Players can:
- Fold
- Call
- Raise
This round plays exactly like Texas Hold’em — except everyone has an extra card.
Step 3 – The Flop
Three community cards are revealed in the center of the table.
At this point, players can see how their three hole cards connect with the board.
Step 4 – Discard One Card
🚨 Important Rule
After the flop — and before the next betting round — each player must discard one of their three hole cards.
- You choose which card to discard
- Once discarded, it’s out of the hand
- You now continue the hand with two hole cards, just like Hold’em
This is the moment that defines Crazy Pineapple, and it’s where beginners most often get confused.
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Clear callout graphic showing “Discard AFTER the flop.”
Step 5 – The Turn
A fourth community card is revealed.
With only two hole cards left, the game now plays exactly like Texas Hold’em.
Step 6 – The River
The fifth and final community card is revealed.
This is your last chance to improve your hand.
Step 7 – The Showdown
If two or more players remain, cards are revealed.
Each player makes their best five-card hand using:
- Their two remaining hole cards
- The five community cards
The best hand wins the pot.
Poker Hand Rankings in Crazy Pineapple
Crazy Pineapple uses the same hand rankings as Texas Hold’em.
- Straight
- Flush
- Full house
- And so on
Because players start with an extra card, stronger hands appear more often, especially after the flop.
You do not need to memorize hand rankings — most poker apps display them automatically.
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Hand rankings chart with note: “Same rankings as Hold’em.”
Common Beginner Mistakes in Crazy Pineapple
Crazy Pineapple is simple, but a few mistakes come up again and again.
Forgetting to Discard
Every player must discard after the flop. Forgetting this is the most common error.
Discarding Too Early
You do not discard before the flop. Wait until after the first three community cards are revealed.
Treating It Like Omaha
In Crazy Pineapple, you end with two hole cards, not four. The game finishes like Hold’em, not Omaha.
Overvaluing Weak Hands
Starting with three cards makes many hands look strong early. Not all of them stay strong after the discard.
Media Suggestion:
Beginner mistakes checklist graphic.
What You Don’t Need to Learn Yet
You can start playing Crazy Pineapple without worrying about:
- Advanced Pineapple strategy
- Card removal theory
- Multi-street planning
Those concepts come later. For now, focus on following the rules and enjoying the extra action.
Ready to Try Crazy Pineapple?
The easiest way to learn Crazy Pineapple is by playing it.
Poker apps handle the discard rule automatically, so there’s no risk of playing the hand incorrectly. Each hand teaches you the flow naturally, without pressure.
Play Crazy Pineapple free.
Try Crazy Pineapple in the app and learn as you play.
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App screenshot showing automatic discard enforcement.