Paddlefest Poker Run
Saturday, June 26, 2010
The Ohio River Way Poker Run is a fun way to test your luck as you paddle down the Ohio from Coney Island to the Cincinnati Public Landing on Saturday, June 26, 2010. To participate in the Poker Run, you must first be registered for the 8.2 mile Paddlefest float trip and then pay an additional $10 ($15 if you register on site) for each hand you want to play. You will have from 9:00 am to 12 noon to complete the course by picking up one card per hand at five stops along the way. Please take your time and enjoy your trip!
All boaters must register for the Run before starting to be considered a participant. The cost to participate up until June 18 is $10.00 per hand. After June 18, the cost increases to $15.00 per hand. Registration is available online until June 18 and on site at Coney Island on Friday, June 25 (10:00 am till 9:00 pm) and on Saturday morning, June 26 (6:30-8:30 am). If you register on line you must pick up your Poker Run Score Card and rules at the Paddlefest Registration area at the "Lost River Shelter" on June 25 or June 26. The maximum number of hands allowed is four per person, 12 per boat.
Participants must go to all five stops on the poker run course. Your poker run participating card must be stamped at each stop to ensure that you have completed the course.
Poker Run Stops on the Ohio:
- Four Seasons Marina Fuel Dock (OH side)
- Schmidt Field Boat Ramp (OH side)
- Ohio River Launch Club
- Manhattan Harbour (look for them on their boat in the water)
- Covington shoreline at confluence of the Licking and Ohio Rivers (KY side)
At each stop, you must hand the official the participation card for which you are drawing, then reach into the poker card bag and draw out a card. To be fair, you will always draw from a full deck of 52 cards. In the event that you draw a card which you already have in your hand, you simply replace that card and draw a new card. Your participation card will be marked by an official with the card that you draw.
Once the card is marked, you are ready to paddle on to the next stop.
When you have gone to all five stops and completed your five card hand, you are ready to match your hand against all others for the chance to win a prize. If you have to miss a stop because of the 12 noon deadline, you may draw that card at the check-in station which will be next to the music stage on the top of the Serpentine Wall at the Finish Line Festival. You will also have the opportunity to purchase up to two additional cards for $5.00 each at the check in station. The same rules apply to the bonus cards and you will only play the five best cards. You should declare your hand at the check in, even though final evaluation is up to the judges, who will select the highest possible hands.
The winning poker hands are valued from best to worst as follows and only five cards will be used to determine the winning hand. The rankings are as follows:
Royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card. All scoring by judges is final.
