Gardena Jackpots

This game is also called “Jacks to open”. Its other name comes from the city of Gardena, California, where it used to be played, up until the 70s.

Gardena Jackpots plays in a similar manner to regular 5-card Draw, with a few differences. First of all, it is always played with antes and no blinds, and there is a single joker used, which counts as a bug.

After each player antes into the pot, and the hands are dealt, the first betting round begins. The peculiarity of the game is, that betting can only be opened by a player who has at least a pair of Jacks, hence the name "jacks to open”.

If no player has at least a pair of jacks, there’s another deal, and everyone antes into the pot again. (without getting their previous ante back).

The player who begins the betting round, has to keep the cards he would normally muck close by, so that he can later prove that he indeed had the hand required to open betting.

If a player discards one of the cards that he used in his opening hand, it is said that he "breaks opener”