Cover art for Lamarckian Poker

Lamarckian Poker

1999 · BGG
Avg rating
6.43
Bayes rating
5.53
Weight
1.61 (Light)
Players
2-6
Playtime
10 min
Ratings count
87

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Description

In Lamarckian Poker players start with a hand resembling primordial ooze, but attempt through successive generations to "evolve" it into something more useful. But unlike Lamarck's giraffes, they may find themselves competing with others for the very same improvements. In the end, the player who has accumulated the best Poker hand wins. Can be played using a standard Poker deck without Jokers. Players start with four cards. Each round, there are four new cards available. Each player simultaneously chooses a card from her hand. The cards are revealed and then resolved in order from highest to smallest, with suit order breaking ties. Each card takes all the cards of same value OR same suit from the pool and then goes into the pool, so a card played never returns to the hand of the player and later cards can capture earlier cards. The cards that are left in the pool are discarded and a new pool of four cards is dealt. This process is repeated as long as there are cards left in the deck, then the player who has the best five-card Poker hand wins the game.

Play mode

Competitive

How it plays

Action selection / worker placement Set collection & pattern building

Game type

Card game Board game

What it’s about

History, politics & real-world conflict

Publishers

Cheapass Games GAMES Magazine

Designers

David Howell James Ernest