Objective of the Game
Poch is a historical card game that combines skill in card play with luck in placing bets using play stones on a special board. The main goal is to win the most chips by collecting card combinations and strategically placing bets.
Game Components
- A Pochboard (a special game board with marked areas)
- A deck of cards: usually a French or German deck
- Chips for betting
Setup
Set up the Pochboard in the middle of the table. Each player receives an equal number of chips, typically starting with about 20-50 chips, depending on the agreed duration of play.
Gameplay
- Betting Phase (Gifting)
At the beginning of each game, each player places a bet in the different fields of the Pochboard, marked with terms like "Pique", "Coeur", "Karo", "Treff", and the "Poch" pot. -
Dealing Cards
The dealer (or croupier) shuffles the deck and deals an equal number of face-down cards to each player. Typically, five cards are dealt. -
Poker Phase (Poching)
Similar to poker, players now try to form the best hand. They can conduct betting rounds, raise, call, or fold. The aim is to have the best card combination or to make the other players fold. -
Pochboard Payouts
After the poker phase, payouts are made according to card specifics:- "Pique", "Coeur", "Karo", "Treff": Chips are paid to the player with the most cards of each respective suit.
- "Sequence": For the longest uninterrupted sequence of cards.
- "Poch": Goes to the player with the strongest poker hand.
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Conclusion
The player with the best hand wins the bets in the center of the table ("Poch") and potentially the allocated chips on the respective fields.
Strategy Tips
- Bluffing is an important aspect of the poker phase. Players should adjust their strategies to increase the likelihood of other players folding.
- Pay attention to suit distribution and sequences, as these play an important role in payout distribution on the board.
- Keeping a good overview of chips and their distribution on the Pochboard can help in winning a game.
Poch is a game that combines strategic elements of poker with the chance elements of a board game. Its mix of tactics and luck makes it a game that can appeal to both casual players and seasoned card players.
