Anaconda (Pass the Trash)
Also known as: Pass the Trash, Screw Your Neighbor, Howdy Doody
A card-passing game where each player receives seven cards, then passes three cards to the left, then two to the left, then one to the left. After each pass round, there is a betting round. Players end up with seven cards from multiple sources and make the best five-card hand.
Quick Rules
- Each player is dealt 7 cards face down.
- Round 1: Pass 3 cards to the player on your left. Betting round.
- Round 2: Pass 2 cards to the left. Betting round.
- Round 3: Pass 1 card to the left. Betting round.
- Players choose their best 5 cards and arrange them in a face-down row.
- Cards are revealed one at a time with a final betting round (roll-your-own).
Strategy Notes
Passing your worst cards seems obvious but is not always correct — consider what your opponent to the left needs. Keep cards that work together as a hand rather than individual high cards. The final roll-your-own phase adds bluffing opportunities.
Home Game Tips
A social game that generates lots of table talk and groaning during passes. Make sure everyone passes simultaneously to prevent information advantages. The roll-your-own reveal at the end adds drama. Can be played hi-lo for additional complexity.