Strip poker is a poker variant where players forfeit clothing instead of chips. The loser of each hand removes a pre-agreed item of clothing. There are no official rules and the format is flexible by design. Any poker variant can be adapted to work.
What Do You Need to Play Strip Poker?
- A standard deck of cards
- Poker chips (optional but recommended)
- At least one other player
- A sense of humour
Chips aren't strictly required, but they make the game significantly fairer and easier to manage. Without them, you're relying on clothing alone to track the score, which gets complicated quickly with more than two players.
How Do You Play Strip Poker?
The following is a fast, low-skill format that works for any experience level. It's structured as a heads-up (two-player) game but scales to groups.
1. Set Up
Give each player the same number of chips. Before the game starts, assign a clothing item to each chip value. Agree on the rules and format in full. Don't leave anything open to interpretation.
2. Deal the Cards
Wash the cards (spread them face-down and mix them around), then deal each player two hole cards to look at immediately. Deal two additional cards face-down in front of each player – these cannot be looked at yet.
3. Deal the Flop
Burn the top card and deal three community cards face-up to the centre of the table, which are shared by all players.
4. Card Exchange
Players can exchange one or both of their face-down cards for new ones from the deck. The swap is blind and players cannot look at the replacement cards before deciding. Once discarded, cards cannot be taken back.
5. Run the Board
Burn a card and deal the turn, then burn again and deal the river. There are now five community cards on the table. Players use any combination of their hole cards and the community cards to make the best five-card hand.
6. Showdown
Players reveal their hands. The player with the worst hand loses a chip and removes the corresponding item of clothing. Used chips are set aside and they don't go to the winner. The process repeats until one player runs out of chips and clothing.
How Do You Keep Strip Poker Fair?
Not everyone starts with the same number of clothing items. To keep things balanced, assign chip values to each item so that all players begin with the same total chip count. Players wearing fewer items should have those items assigned higher chip values to compensate.
Here's an example with two players starting on five chips each:
Player A (dress):
Dress – 3 chips
Socks – 1 chip
Shoes – 1 chip
Total: 5 chips
Player B (jeans and layers):
Shirt – 1 chip
Jacket – 1 chip
Jeans – 1 chip
Shoes – 1 chip
Cap – 1 chip
Total: 5 chips
Accessories like rings, bracelets, and watches count. Use them to balance totals if needed.
How Many People Can Play Strip Poker?
Strip poker works with two to six players. Two players makes for a more intimate game; larger groups lean into the social and comedic side of it. In theory you can deal to more, but the format gets harder to manage beyond six.
Can You Play Strip Poker Online?
Yes. If you're not in the same room, you can run a version of strip poker using an existing poker platform:
- Pull up a live cash game table, and project it on a shared screen or have everyone load it on their own device.
- Choose one player already at the table to represent your group.
- When that player loses a pot, everyone watching removes a clothing item.
This works well over a video call. The outcome is entirely out of your hands, which adds to the tension. It's also a good option for players who don't know poker yet, since there are no decisions to make, so they can pick up the basics as they watch.
How to Host a Strip Poker Game
Confirm everyone wants to play. Don't assume. People won't always say if they're uncomfortable. If someone wants to back out mid-game, let them without question.
Agree on the rules before you start. Settle clothing assignments, game format, and any side rules in advance. Disputes mid-hand kill the atmosphere.
Keep the pace fast. Slow, deep-stack poker doesn't suit this format. High-variance play keeps everyone involved.
Adjust for skill gaps. If some players know poker well and others don't, give newer players a chip advantage or switch to a higher-variance variant. The game should be fun for everyone at the table.
Set the environment. Low lighting, background music, and a warm room help. Nobody wants to be cold.
Strip Poker: Key Takeaways
- Strip poker replaces chips with clothing – the loser of each hand removes a pre-agreed item.
- There are no official rules; the format is flexible and can be adapted freely.
- Use chips to manage the game fairly, even though no money is involved.
- Assign chip values to clothing items so all players start with an equal total.
- Fast, high-variance formats work better than slow, skill-heavy ones.
- Any poker variant works; simplified Texas Hold'em and draw games are the most common choices.
- Only play with people who want to. Comfort and consent are non-negotiable.
FAQ - Strip Poker
What is strip poker?
Strip poker is a poker variant where players remove clothing instead of losing chips or money. The player with the worst hand at showdown forfeits a pre-agreed item of clothing.
What are the rules of strip poker?
There is no standardised rulebook. The core rule is that the loser removes a piece of clothing. Everything else, like the poker variant used, the number of decision points, and how clothing is assigned is agreed by the players before the game starts.
Which poker variant works best for strip poker?
Draw variants and simplified Hold'em are the most popular choices. They play quickly, don't require deep poker knowledge, and produce clear winners and losers without complicated betting structures.
How do you make strip poker fair?
Assign chip values to each item of clothing before the game starts, so every player begins with the same total chip count. Players with fewer items of clothing should have those items assigned higher chip values to compensate.
Can you play strip poker online?
Yes. Use an existing poker platform, pick a live table, nominate one player at the table to represent your group, and remove a clothing item whenever that player loses a pot. It works well over a video call.
How many people can play strip poker?
Two to six players is the practical range. Two players produces a more intimate game; larger groups lean towards the social and comedic side of it.
