Strip Poker Rules

As you may not be surprised to learn, strip poker doesn’t have a particularly stringent rule set; you don’t see many sticklers for rules invited to these games. However, it’s good to have some rigidity to the game’s structure; otherwise, the evening quickly turns limp, and no one has a very fun experience.

While you can use any game to play strip poker, games with fewer betting rounds (like Texas Hold’em and 5 Card Draw) are often the most popular. And let’s get one thing out of the way before we go any further; socks and underwear are clothes, but glasses and jewelry don’t count, OK? If you don’t want to be disadvantaged by showing up barefoot and commando, you can agree on a fixed number of clothes for each person.

There often isn’t much poker that goes on in strip poker – most games won’t have any betting rounds at all! However, depending on how much poker you want to play, there are three commonly played versions of strip poker:

• Fast Strip Poker
• Steady Strip Poker
• Boring Strip Poker

The fast version doesn’t actually have any poker playing at all. Instead, you deal each player a hand, run out the board, and the player who wins gets to keep their clothes on, while everyone else must take off an item of clothing. The game continues in this vein, with everyone but the winner of the hand taking off a piece of clothing. The first person to end up naked is the loser. Depending on how eager you are to get people naked and your plans for the rest of the night, this may be the best option.

The steady version also doesn’t have any poker playing, but it’s a much slower process to complete. This is because the major difference is that the player with the worst hand is the only person that needs to remove an item of clothing.

As the name implies, this game is taken at a steadier pace, particularly when revealing your hands at the end. Slowrolling is allowed and encouraged in these games, but be mindful of what body parts you leave exposed if you do so!

Finally, the boring version is the game for the purists. The ones that would complain that there’s no poker playing in this game about getting people naked. In this game, the game is played as normal with chips, but a player is allowed to bet an item of clothing if they wish to do so if they don’t have enough chips to continue the hand. So if you’re playing with a lot of tight players at the table, it can take a while before anyone shows you their one-eyed jack.

Truth or dare is the perfect game to combine with strip poker, as it can add some much-needed length to the shorter games out there (which makes them much more satisfying), or it can spice things up if people insist on playing the boring version.

If you’re playing the shorter versions of the game, you can give people the option to ask for a truth or a dare instead of taking off an item of clothing every alternate round.

This makes the game go longer as people aren’t ending up naked within 10 hands but still enforces some sort of exciting punishment for losing. You can even let players continue playing once they’re naked by making them pick a truth or dare every round.

If you’re playing the boring version, you can add a rule where you have to take a truth or dare if you fold. This punishment for folding means people will lose chips faster and have to start wagering their clothes faster.

In case you’ve been living under a rock – playing truth or dare is incredibly easy. First, you ask the chosen participant (victim) “Truth or Dare,” to which they either respond “Truth” (where they have to answer a question that is often embarrassing or intimate truthfully) or “Dare” (where they have to complete a challenge set by the asker).

Make sure you don’t go too overboard when setting your “Dare” challenges.

Setting Boundaries and Consent

Before diving into a game of strip poker, it’s crucial to establish clear boundaries and ensure everyone involved feels comfortable. Unlike traditional poker, strip poker adds a personal and vulnerable element to the game, so mutual understanding and respect are essential. Here’s how to set the stage for a fun and enjoyable experience:

1. Discuss the Rules in Advance

• Agree on the Basics: Decide on the format of the game (e.g., fast, steady, or full poker with betting). Clarify what counts as “clothing” to avoid disputes (e.g., socks, jewelry, and accessories).
• Set Limits: Determine if there’s a stopping point for the game. For example, agree on whether players must remove all their clothing or if underwear is the final piece allowed.
• Define Opt-Outs: Ensure everyone knows they can stop playing at any time without pressure or judgment.

2. Consent Is Key

• Voluntary Participation: Make sure everyone consents to participate fully and understands the nature of the game.
• No Pressure: Never force or coerce anyone to play. Strip poker is only fun when everyone is willing and enthusiastic.
• Respect “No”: If someone feels uncomfortable at any point, they should have the option to step out or modify their level of involvement.

3. Establish Privacy and Safety

• Private Setting: Choose a location where all participants feel secure, such as a private home or room. Avoid public areas to protect everyone’s privacy.
• Safe Environment: Make sure the space is free from recording devices. Explicitly agree that no photos or videos will be taken during the game.

4. Encourage Communication

• Check In Regularly: Periodically ask how everyone feels during the game to ensure no one is uncomfortable.
• Use Safe Words: For more lighthearted or risqué games, establish a safe word or signal that anyone can use if they feel uneasy.
• Celebrate Diversity: Be mindful of differences in comfort levels, body image, and personal boundaries, and adjust the game to make everyone feel included.

6. Keep It Fun and Friendly

• Avoid Judgment: The goal is to enjoy the game, not to embarrass or humiliate anyone.
• Celebrate Playfulness: Laugh at the quirky moments and keep the atmosphere lighthearted.
• Respect Individual Comfort Levels: Always prioritize the well-being of every participant over the competitive aspect of the game.

If you’re trying to organize a strip poker game with your significant other, friends, coworkers, or cellmates, here are a few tips that will make the game less awkward the next morning.

• Keep Things Light– You’ll want to make sure the evening is taken in the light-hearted spirit it’s intended, so make sure to make everyone feel at ease with dimmed lights, comfortable places to sit, some music, and lots and lots of alcohol.
• Get The Temperature Right – No one wants to get naked in a cold room, but no one wants to be sweating either, so try to find a comfortable temperature that will keep people warm, but not too warm!
• Wear Nice Underwear– Make sure to wear something nice, don’t wear the ones with holes in them as you’ll give everything away before they’ve earned it.
• Have Fun! – The most important thing to do in these games is to have fun; getting tilted at a strip poker game is not a good look.

Things might get a little tense towards the business end of the game, but if things go right, you may end up with a couple of kings or queens instead of jack king off.

Play Online

If you’re dying to play strip poker but don’t have anyone to play it with, there’s finally a solution! No, it’s not playing in front of a mirror (those games always end in a tie anyway…); there are plenty of video games and online games that give you the chance to play with virtual partners.

Video Games

As early as the 1980s, video game systems had strip poker games available, with the earliest recorded game being “A Sizzling Game of Chance,” created in 1982 for the Apple II computer. Since then, lots of strip poker games have been made for games consoles and mobiles, with some notable games including Strip Poker Professional (released on DOS in 1994), Sexy Poker (release on mobile in 2004 and WiiWare in 2009), and Strip Poker XXX (released in 2013 on PC).

Google It

As well as dedicated strip poker video games, a host of online games allow you to play right in your browser. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out how to find these; just Google “Play Strip Poker Online,” and you’ll find thousands of games to enjoy.