Pokeno
$14.99
Pokeno at a Glance
| Game Type Card, Number and Luck Game Betting | Play Time 10 mins | Skill/Complexity (1 - 5) Fun - No Skill |
| Age 7+ | Publisher(s) Bicycle | Published 1930 |
| Categories Party / Family | Players 2 - 13 (4 - 6 is best) | |
| Our Rating 7/10 | Cost $14.99 |
About – Description
Pokeno is a classic board game that was first released in 1930 by the United States Playing Card Company.
It’s a game that is suitable for up to 13 players and it can be played by players aged 7 and over.
This party card game is fast-paced and has a playing time of ten minutes. The game is based around Poker and Keno (Lotto) with similarities to the game of Bingo.
Who’s it best suited for?
This party game is suitable for those who enjoy quick-fire games that are designed for fun and excitement, and it plays well with groups of 4 or more players
It offers a great way for children to get into board games and adults can also enjoy the way in which it draws from the game of poker.
Pokeno’s quick play makes it a fun time filler for families to take along on vacation or camping trips.
Skill – Complexity
The Pokeno board game is a very simple game to learn and play as the main aspect of the game focuses around turning cards and marking the card off a board. Therefore, it does not require any skill or knowledge, giving it a low complexity rating.
Set Up – Playing Rules & Instructions
Pokeno comes with 12 boards and chips although an ordinary 52 card pack of playing cards will need to be purchased separately.
Object of Game
The goal of the game is simple. The first to complete a horizontal or vertical row of 5 chips shouts out Po-Ke-No to win either that round or the game.
How to Play Pokeno?
Before starting you might want to decide how you are going to play and the rules to use.
The simple standard way is for all players to compete with each other to complete a row of 5 card sections (horizontally or vertically) of the board with the dealers matching cards that are called, and once a row is completed that player wins and shouts out Po-Ke-No. You can then begin a new game with a new card dealer.
More about rules and variations after a quick run through the standard way to play.
Standard Play & Rules:
To begin the game, each player is given a Pokeno board and 20 chips. You will have chosen a person to be the the first card dealer of the game.
The dealer then shuffles the cards and turns over the top card, calling out the suit and value of the card.
The players then have to place a chip on the card on their board if they have it that matches what the dealer called.
The dealer continues to turn over the top card until a player shouts Po-Ke-No. To achieve this they need to place five chips on the card sections of the board in a row, horizontally or vertically if they are playing the standard game.
Once someone shouts Po-Ke-No and wins that game they become the next dealer. The winner can receive the chips that are left on the other players boards.
You can play as many rounds as you like or use a time limit rule of play (best to decide before playing) and if the winner of each of the rounds are collecting chips then you calculate every persons amounts at the end, and the player with the most chips wins.
If you only have 20 chips each then a player could go out the game if they lose all of them before all the rounds are completed or the allotted time has run out.
It is that simple! However…….
Rank of Poker Additional Rule:
Each board is designed with poker hands within the rows. So, when you complete a row you’ll shout Po-Ke-No and check the hand you have won. All hands are given a different chip winning amount which depends on the poker hand value, and then the winning player is awarded that chip amount. At the end of all rounds the chips are counted and the person with the most is the overall winner…….unfortunately you could lose all your chips and be out the game.
Here is an example of the chip or point system you can use for the Rank of Poker (i.e., hands).
- 8 Chips = Straight Flush - 5 cards of the same suit in sequence. If you have an Ace then it’s a royal flush = 9 Chips)
- 7 Chips = Four of a Kind - 4 cards of the same amount (e.g., 4 Kings).
- 6 Chips = Full House – 3 cards of one amount and two of another.
- 5 Chips = Flush – Any 5 cards of the same suit.
- 4 Chips = Straight – Any 5 cards in sequence (e.g., ace , 2, 3, 4, 5 of mixed suits).
- 3 Chips = Three of a Kind - 3 cards of the same amount (e.g., 3 Jacks)
- 2 Chips = Two Pairs – 2 cards of one amount and two of another (e.g., 2 x 2 no 7 cards, and 2 x 2 no 10 cards).
- 1 Chip = One Pair – 2 cards of the same amount.
Versions – Editions
The game has remained fairly unchanged throughout the decades due to its simplicity and universal gameplay. There is a Pokeno 2 which provides extra boards and chips……it’s like a top up for the main game.
Likes & Dislikes
Players of Pokeno the board game find it a lot of fun due to the fact that it is simple and quick to play.
It’s a great game that brings people together as it is quick to learn. It seems to be a game that players can rely on when they need something to play because it is a game that requires very little input and has stood the test of time.
However, players found it disappointing that the game did not come with cards and they find that it is very similar to bingo in a sense.
Final Thoughts
A very simple game to learn and play. It is ideal for those who like to play games that are short and exciting, especially when children are playing.
The game gives a certain level of versatility depending on who is playing as some players introduce prizes and even a points system for determining the overall winner after several games.
