Pokeno is a card game that combines poker and bingo-style gameplay. Players use boards covered with pictures of playing cards, while a dealer draws cards from a standard 52-card deck. When a card is called, players cover the matching card on their boards. In the basic game, the first player to cover five spaces in a row wins.
You do not need to know how to play poker before playing Pokeno. The basic rules are straightforward, and most people can learn the game after watching a few cards being called.
Pokeno Rules at a Glance
| Rule | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 or more |
| Equipment | Pokeno boards, markers and a 52-card deck |
| Goal | Cover five spaces in a row |
| Dealer’s job | Draw and announce cards |
| Player’s job | Cover matching cards on their board |
| Standard winning pattern | Five horizontally or vertically |
| Poker knowledge required? | No |
| Typical game length | Varies by how quickly a winning row is completed |
Pokeno can also be played with different winning patterns and poker-based scoring, so the rules may vary depending on the version your group uses.
What Is Pokeno?
Pokeno, sometimes written as Po-Ke-No, is a game that combines elements of poker and keno with a playing format similar to bingo. The game dates back to 1930 and was originally produced by the United States Playing Card Company.
Instead of receiving a hand of playing cards, each player receives a Pokeno board. The board contains a 5-by-5 grid of playing card images. A dealer draws actual playing cards from a shuffled deck and announces them one at a time.
If the card appears on your board, you cover that space with a chip or marker. Players continue covering spaces until someone completes the required pattern.
What Do You Need to Play Pokeno?
You need four basic things to play Pokeno:
- Pokeno game boards
- A standard 52-card deck
- Pokeno chips, poker chips or other small markers
- At least two people
Traditional Pokeno sets commonly include 12 game boards and 200 chips. Each board has 25 spaces arranged in five rows and five columns.
You do not have to use official Pokeno chips. Coins, buttons or other small objects can work as markers as long as they fit over the spaces without covering too much of the board.
How to Set Up Pokeno
Choose one person to serve as the dealer or caller. Give each player a Pokeno board and enough markers to cover spaces throughout the game.
The dealer shuffles a standard 52-card deck and places it face down.
Before starting, decide what pattern players need to complete to win. The standard game uses five covered spaces in a horizontal or vertical row. Other versions may allow diagonal rows, four corners or other patterns.
Once everyone knows the winning pattern, the dealer can begin drawing cards.
How Do You Play Pokeno Step by Step?
The basic rules of Pokeno are similar to bingo, except playing cards are called instead of numbers.
- The dealer draws a card. The dealer takes the top card from the shuffled deck.
- The dealer announces the card. Both the rank and suit should be called, such as “8 of hearts” or “queen of clubs.”
- Players check their Pokeno boards. Look for the exact card the dealer announced.
- Cover the matching space. If the card appears on your board, place a marker over it.
- Continue drawing cards. The dealer draws and announces cards one at a time while players continue covering matches.
- Complete five spaces in a row. In the standard version, players are trying to complete a horizontal or vertical row.
- Announce the win. When you complete the required pattern, call “Pokeno” or “Out” and have the dealer verify your board.
The round ends once a winner has been confirmed. The cards and markers can then be cleared before beginning another round.
How Do You Win Pokeno?
In standard Pokeno, the first player to cover five spaces in a horizontal or vertical row wins the round.
For example, imagine your board has the following five cards across one row:
- 3 of hearts
- 8 of clubs
- Jack of diamonds
- 5 of spades
- King of hearts
If the dealer eventually calls all five cards, you can cover the entire row and win.
The cards do not have to be called consecutively. They only need to be called at some point during the round.
Can You Win Pokeno Diagonally?
A diagonal row does not count under some traditional versions of Pokeno, which specify horizontal and vertical rows. However, diagonal wins are used as a house rule or alternative variation.
This is one reason players should agree on the winning pattern before starting.
If your group wants to include diagonal wins, a row running from one corner of the board to the opposite corner can count the same as a horizontal or vertical row.
What Does Poker Have to Do With Pokeno?
The basic Pokeno game does not require players to make poker hands. The poker element comes from the way the cards are arranged on the boards and from alternative scoring rules.
Rows on a Pokeno board can represent different poker hands. Instead of treating every completed row equally, some versions award points or chips based on the poker value of the completed row.
Common poker hands, ranked from stronger to weaker, include:
- Straight flush
- Four of a kind
- Full house
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a kind
- Two pair
- One pair
This scoring method changes the game because the value of the completed row matters, rather than simply being the first person to cover five spaces.
How Does Scoring Work in Pokeno?
Pokeno does not have to be scored. For a basic game, each round can simply produce one winner.
Traditional and alternative versions can use chips or points based on the poker hand represented by a player’s completed row. Groups can also create their own scoring system for multiple rounds.
For example, you could award one point for every round won and play until someone reaches five points.
The important part is deciding how scoring works before starting, particularly if you are playing a version that uses poker hands.
What Are the Different Ways to Play Pokeno?
The basic five-in-a-row game is only one way to play. Pokeno can be adapted with different winning patterns and scoring rules.
Standard Pokeno
Players cover cards as they are called. The first player to complete a horizontal or vertical row of five wins.
Poker Pokeno
Instead of ending the game as soon as someone completes a row, players use the poker value of completed rows to determine the winner or the number of points awarded.
Four Corners
Players try to cover the four corner spaces on their Pokeno boards. The first player to cover all four corners wins.
Cover All
Players attempt to cover every space on their board. Cards continue to be called until someone covers the entire board.
Diagonal Pokeno
Players can win by completing a diagonal row in addition to horizontal and vertical rows.
These variations can also be used for separate rounds. For example, you might play one standard round, followed by four corners, a diagonal round and then cover all.
How Many People Can Play Pokeno?
The number of people who can play depends largely on how many Pokeno boards you have.
Traditional sets commonly contain 12 boards, allowing up to 12 people to have their own boards. Some versions allow the dealer to participate as well.
Pokeno also works with small groups. You do not need 12 players to play.
If you have more players than boards, additional sets or boards may be needed.
Is Pokeno the Same as Bingo?
Pokeno and bingo use similar mechanics, but they are different games.
In bingo, a caller announces randomly selected numbers and players cover those numbers on their cards. In Pokeno, the dealer draws playing cards and players cover matching card images on their boards.
The basic comparison looks like this:
| Bingo | Pokeno |
|---|---|
| Numbers are called | Playing cards are called |
| Uses bingo cards | Uses Pokeno boards |
| Players cover matching numbers | Players cover matching playing cards |
| Complete a required pattern | Complete a required pattern |
| No poker element | Some versions use poker-hand values |
Someone who already knows how to play bingo will probably recognize the basic Pokeno format immediately.
Is Pokeno the Same as Poker?
No. Pokeno uses poker cards and can incorporate poker-hand rankings, but it is not played like a traditional poker game.
Players do not receive private hands, bet through rounds or decide whether to fold. In the standard game, players simply cover spaces when the corresponding cards are drawn.
Knowing poker-hand rankings is only necessary if you choose a Pokeno variation that uses them for scoring.
Can You Play Pokeno Without Gambling?
Yes. Money and gambling are not required to play Pokeno.
Chips can simply serve as markers for covering spaces on the boards. If you want to keep score over several rounds, use points instead of money.
For example, give the winner of each round one point and declare the first person to reach a predetermined number of points the overall winner.
Common Pokeno Rules to Decide Before You Start
Pokeno has several variations, so establishing the rules before the first card is drawn can prevent disagreements later.
Decide:
- Whether diagonal rows count
- Whether players are trying for five in a row or another pattern
- Whether poker-hand values matter
- Whether the dealer is also playing
- How points or chips are awarded
- How many rounds you will play
If everyone is new to Pokeno, starting with a simple horizontal-or-vertical five-in-a-row game is the easiest way to learn.
Pokeno Rules in One Minute
If you need a quick explanation before starting a game, remember these basic Pokeno rules:
- Give each player a Pokeno board and markers.
- Shuffle a standard 52-card deck.
- Draw and announce one card at a time.
- Cover the card on your board when it is called.
- Keep playing until someone covers five spaces in a horizontal or vertical row.
- The first player to complete the winning row announces it and wins the round.
That is all you need to start playing the basic version of Pokeno. Once everyone understands the standard rules, you can add diagonal wins, four corners, poker-hand scoring and other variations to future rounds.
Ready to Play Pokeno?
Pokeno is easy to learn once you understand the basic rhythm of the game: draw a card, cover the match, and try to complete the winning pattern before anyone else. From there, you can change things up with different patterns, scoring methods, and poker-inspired variations.
Looking for another game to play? Check out our other card game guides for rules, instructions, and tips for card games, board games, outdoor games, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pokeno
What is the object of Pokeno?
The basic object of Pokeno is to be the first player to cover five spaces in a horizontal or vertical row. Other versions use different patterns or poker-hand scoring.
How many cards do you need for Pokeno?
You need one standard deck containing 52 playing cards. The deck is shuffled and used by the dealer to call cards during the game.
Do players get dealt cards in Pokeno?
No. In the standard game, players receive Pokeno boards rather than hands of cards. The dealer draws cards from the deck, and players cover the matching images on their boards.
How many Pokeno cards does each player get?
Each player typically gets one Pokeno board. The board contains 25 playing card images arranged in a 5-by-5 grid.
What happens when your card is called in Pokeno?
If the playing card called by the dealer appears on your Pokeno board, place a chip or marker over that space.
Do you get a free space in Pokeno?
Unlike traditional bingo cards, standard Pokeno boards do not rely on a free center space. Players cover spaces when the corresponding playing cards are called.
Can two people play Pokeno?
Yes. Pokeno can be played with two people, although it also works well as a group game. One person can call cards while both participants use boards if the caller is also playing.
Do you yell “Pokeno” when you win?
Many players announce “Pokeno” when they complete the winning pattern. Traditional instructions may instead tell the winner to call “Out.” Either works as long as everyone agrees on how a win should be announced.
