Kil-Kuli

Kil-Kuli is a poker variant, similar to the game of Pineapple. In essence, the game starts off like five-card draw, and ends like hold’em. Kil-Kuli also has one unique feature – discarded cards are left face-up in front of the player who discarded them, and can be used to make their own hand. Some familiarity with the values of poker hands is necessary, in order to play.

Kil-Kuli addresses some frustrations games like hold'em inspired in me: that the game's already decided when the first cards are drawn! In Kil-Kuli, the game isn't won until it's won. Borrowing and expanding on mahjong's system of discards, Kil-Kuli gives players a chance to strategise, and directly engage with each other. Two-player games can often end as a wash, with neither side gaining or losing, unless either player makes a real grandstand play.