Irish Poker - Drinking Game Rules & How to Play

Guess your cards right or take increasing drinks

Equipment Needed

  • Standard deck of cards
  • Drinks

Setup

Deal 4 cards face down to each player in a row. Players should not look at their cards.

How to Play Irish Poker

  1. Deal 4 cards face down to each player
  2. Round 1: Guess red or black. Wrong = 1 drink
  3. Round 2: Higher or lower than card 1? Wrong = 2 drinks
  4. Round 3: Inside or outside cards 1-2? Wrong = 3 drinks
  5. Round 4: Guess the suit. Wrong = 4 drinks
  6. After guessing, give out drinks equal to your correct answers
  7. All correct? Give out 10 drinks however you choose

Tips & Strategies

Use probability - after seeing card 1, you have better info for card 2. Track cards played.

Variations

Double Irish: Do two full rounds. Punishment Irish: Wrong guesses are doubled.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as inside?
The card value is between your first two cards, not equal to either.
Is Ace high or low?
Decide before playing. Traditionally Ace is high.

Players: 2-8 | Duration: 15-20 min | Difficulty: easy