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Poker with a Scandinavian Twist

"…Beware any visiting player who sits down to play with them at the Scandinavian version of 5-card-stud, known as Soko.

"…[In] Soko a four-card straight and a four-card flush both qualify as hands, the flush being the higher. They beat one pair but lose to two pairs. This simple device produces far more options and more reasons for betting, raising and gambling.

"…A player starts with a pair of 9s - a heart down and a spade showing. Bet. The third card dealt is the 7 of hearts. More betting. Card four is the 8 of hearts. In the normal variety of five stud the player would have only one pair which is somewhat vulnerable to a higher pair or a draw to a higher pair.

"But in Soko the same hand is a betting or even raising proposition. The 9h-9s-8h-7h can draw one of the two remaining 9s to make a set, one of six remaining 8s or 7s to make two pairs, one of 10 hearts to make a short flush or a 6 or a 10 for a short straight. That is a massive 24 cards available for improvement…"

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