Lunar Poker
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About
Lunar Poker, (also referred to as "Royal Poker" or "Russian Poker"), is a variation of Caribbean Stud Poker and was added at the request of Riverboat Gambler Players. This variant of Caribbean Stud allows the Player to modify his/her own hand and provides an option to bet on the Dealer's hand.
In traditional Caribbean Stud, there is no drawing. The Player's initial five cards are played against the Dealer's initial five cards and a winner is determined. Additionally, the Dealer must qualify with a minimum of an Ace & King in order for the Player to be paid their full Raise wager for a winning hand. Failure of the Dealer to qualify results in the Player's Ante being paid a nominal award.
From all indications, casinos in eastern Europe, especially Russia, eventually came to offer a version of Caribbean Stud that allowed the Player to force the Dealer to draw an additional card. This was done with the intent to get the Dealer to qualify when he otherwise would not have. If the Dealer hand became qualified, the Player's winning hand would be paid for his Raise bet which would result in a higher reward. Rules varied on which card the Dealer would discard, but the lowest card was the most common.
At some point, casinos deemed to allow Players to pay a price of their initial Ante wager for the option to redraw any number of their initial five cards or to purchase a single additional card without having to discard. Adding these new options heavily weighted the odds of the game to the Player's favor. For this reason, if the Dealer qualifies and loses, then the Ante wager Pushes as opposed to being paid as it is in traditional Caribbean Stud. Also, the fee to redraw or to buy an additional card is collected by the Dealer.
How To Play
Placing Wagers
Beginning a round of Lunar Poker requires the Player to place both an Ante wager and a Player Super wager. The Player Super wager must be equal to or greater than the Ante that is placed. Tapping on the corresponding spots on the board will increase the wagered amount by the default amounts ($5, $10, $25, $50, $100) that are defined in Preferences. A maximum of $500 is allowed for each of the Ante & Player Super wagers. Pressing and holding a wager spot will reset the bet amount.
Prior to dealing the cards, the Player also has the opportunity to place an optional "Dealer Super" wager. This wager may be between $5 and $100 and is paid if the Dealer makes a hand that qualifies on the Payout Table that is available in these instructions and by tapping on the game logo on the board.
Once the Player has placed the required Ante & Player Super and any optional Dealer Super wagers, the "Deal" button will become enabled. Pressing the Deal button starts the round.
Playing the Game
In Lunar Poker, both the Player and the Dealer each receive five cards. The object of the game is for the Player to make a valid poker hand that beats the hand that is made by the Dealer. To spice things up, though, the Player has two options to modify his or her hand prior to having the hand called:
For a price, the Player may request one additional card. Then, from the six cards that the Player holds, the best five card hand will be used to challenge the Dealer for the win. The price for this additional card is the amount of the initial Ante.
In those cases where the Player wins the hand, having the extra card proves especially rewarding if the sixth card enables the Player to make a second unique hand from his cards that also beats the Dealer's hand. In these cases, the Player is paid an additional amount that corresponds to the odds for the second hand.
For a price, the Player may replace two or more cards in his Dealt hand. The price to replace cards is the amount of the initial Ante. When this price has been paid by tapping the "Draw 2-5" button, the Player will then tap the cards that are to be replaced and then press the "Deal" button.
Player Instant & Super Wager Payouts
The Player has the opportunity to be paid an Instant or Super payout as soon the first five cards have been dealt. If the Player's first five cards qualify for an Instant or Super win, the Player is immediately paid the appropriate amount and is also refunded the amount of the Player Super wager. The odds for these awards can be found in the Payout Table that is available in these instructions and by tapping on the game logo on the game board.
If the Player's first five cards do not qualify for an Instant or Super bonus win, the Player Super wager is forfeited and removed from the table.
Dealer Super Wager Payouts
This bonus wager is the same concept as the Player Super wager bonus, but is based on the Dealer's five card hand. It pays based on the Payout Table that is found in these instructions and by tapping on the logo on the game board
Ending the Hand
If the Player feels he has a strong enough hand to challenge the Dealer for the win, he must place a secondary Bet wager that is equal to twice the original Ante and press the Deal button.
If, however, the Player does not feel confident about his hand, he may press the Fold button to concede the hand. Folding forfeits the Ante wager, but leaves the Player qualified for the optional Dealer Super award if that wager was placed.
Qualifying Dealer Hand
In order for the Dealer to "Qualify", she must have a hand that contains an Ace & King or a ranked poker hand. If the Dealer does not qualify, the Player's secondary Bet wager is refunded and the Player's Ante wager is paid even money.
Paying the Hand
If the Dealer qualifies and the Player has the better hand, the Player's Ante wager pushes and the Bet wager is paid according to the odds defined in the Payout Table. If the hand ends in a Tie, both wagers Push. When the Dealer wins, both the Ante and the Bet wagers are lost. In cases where the Dealer fails to qualify, there is no payout for any secondary hand that may have been made.
Quick Replay
After the hand has ended, if the Player presses the Deal button, the same Ante, Player Super, and Dealer Super wagers will be placed and new cards will be dealt.
If the Player does not want to repeat the last set of wagers, play will resume after new wagers have been made and the Deal button has been pressed.
Pay Table
Final Call Bet | |
Must Beat Qualified Dealer Hand (A & K) | |
| Royal Flush | 100 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 50 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 20 to 1 |
| Full House | 7 to 1 |
| Flush | 5 to 1 |
| Straight | 4 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 to 1 |
| Two Pairs | 2 to 1 |
| One Pair | 1 to 1 |
| Ace & King | 1 to 1 |
Instant Win | |
Pays Player's First 5 Cards Only | |
| Royal Flush | 1000 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 200 to 1 |
Super Wager Win | ||
Pays First 5 Cards Only (Player or Dealer) | ||
| Four of a Kind | 250 to 1 | |
| Five Face Cards | 120 to 1 | |
| Full House | 100 to 1 | |
| Flush | 60 to 1 | |
| Straight | 30 to 1 | |
| Three of a Kind | 8 to 1 | |
| Ace, King, Queen | 5 to 1 | |
| 5 Cards - Same Color | 2 to 1 | |
| Maximum Payout: $50,000 | ||