Also known as "pass the trash," anaconda poker is a unique variation that combines the gameplay of seven-card stud poker with the simple game screw your neighbor poker. Each player receives a stack of face-down cards, with the option to pass several cards to their neighbor to the left. At the end of the round, the player with the highest-ranking five-card hand wins the pot. If you'd like to try this distinct poker game, read on to learn how to play anaconda poker.

Similar to seven-card stud, each player receives seven cards; however they are all dealt at the beginning of the hand and all face down. Players then select three cards to pass to their neighbor to the left. Betting follows, as does another round of passing, this time with two cards. After one more round of betting, a third round of passing occurs, using one card. Finally a last round of betting is held before the showdown, with players using five of their seven cards to make the best hand.http://www.oinc.net/poker/anaconda.html

Many of the rules are similar to that of seven-card stud, however there are numerous ways to vary the action including additional rounds of betting before the showdown, varying the amount of cards a player initially receives or playing the game in low or hi-lo versions.http://www.casinocity.com/rule/anaconda_poker.htm

To get started playing anaconda poker, each player will need to understand the rules, ranking of hands and gameplay process.

While the gameplay, including passing cards to the left, is the main characteristic of anaconda poker, there are several ways to vary the action to make the game more interesting.

1. Jokers can be added to the deck, however if a player receives a joker, they must pass it to their neighbor.http://www.oinc.net/poker/anaconda.html
2. Rather than ending the round after the last round of betting, all of the betting can be moved to the end of the hand. After the final round of passing, each player flips over their highest card. Players bet again, repeating the process of flipping the next highest card and betting until one face-down card remains.http://www.homepoker.com/games01.asp?group=draw&ID=110
3. Instead of playing with the highest-ranking hand winning the pot, the game can be played in low or hi-lo versions. In the low variation, the player holding the lowest hand, with a maximum card of an eight, wins the pot. In hi-lo, the player with the highest-ranking hand and the player with the lowest-ranking hand split the pot equally.http://www.homepoker.com/games01.asp?group=draw&ID=110
4. Instead of always passing cards to the person to the left, when passing two cards, the cards can go to the person two seats to the left. Similarly, when passing the final card, it can be passed to the person three seats to the left.http://www.homepoker.com/games01.asp?group=draw&ID=110
5. In a variation known as Howdy Doody, hi-lo hand rankings are played, with threes wild for high hands and kings wild in low hands.http://www.homepoker.com/games01.asp?group=draw&ID=110

Before you start playing, it's highly recommended that everyone understand the rules of the game as well as how hands are ranked. Those familiar with seven-card stud will feel at home as many of the rules are quite similar.

1. Each table can include from two to eight players.
2. A standard deck of 52 cards, as well as chips or other objects for betting, are needed.
3. Gameplay always follows a clockwise manner, with the dealing of cards and betting starting with the player to the immediate left of the dealer. After each hand, the dealer will move one seat clockwise.
4. Stakes, including the ante and minimum bet amounts, can vary based on table preference. Each player must agree to the stakes before the game beings.
5. Aces are high, however they can also be used low to make straights.
6. Players are required to pass the specified number of cards during each round of exchanges, meaning even if they have a great hand, they cannot refuse to pass cards to their neighbor to the left.
7. If a player folds during a hand, they will be skipped during passing, sending cards to the next person in the hand to the left.
8. Rankings of hands follow a standard scale, which is also used in Texas hold'em and seven-card stud as follows:

While the rules and ranking of hands in anaconda poker are very similar to that of seven-card stud, the gameplay is significantly different.

1. Each player bets an ante amount, which should be a fraction of the minimum bet amount decided upon by players at each table.
2. Starting with the player to his or her immediate left, the dealer gives each player seven cards, all face down.
3. An opening round of betting occurs, with each player permitted to check, bet, raise, call or fold.
4. Each player selects three cards to pass to the left. The cards are placed face down in front of the left-most neighbor. All players must select their three cards before looking at the cards they will receive.
5. Another round of betting occurs, again with players allowed to check, bet, raise, call or fold.
6. The second round of passing follows, this time with each player selecting two cards to pass to their neighbor to the left.
7. Players bet again, with the same options of checking, betting, raising, calling or folding.
8. A final round of passing occurs, using a single card to pass to their neighbor to the left.
9. One final round of betting follows, with each player checking, betting, raising, calling or folding, based on their final hand.
10. Starting with the first player to the left of the dealer, players flip their cards face up, showing their best five-card hand. The player with the highest-ranking hand wind the pot.
11. The dealer shifts one seat clockwise, the cards and shuffled and the process is repeated for each hand.http://www.oinc.net/poker/anaconda.html