Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

To play penny ante, you will need a table or playing surface, a deck of cards, pennies or other small change for betting, and a group of willing participants.

Step 2: Decide on the Betting Limits and Ante

Before starting the game, all players must agree on the minimum and maximum betting amounts. A typical penny ante game maintains the minimum bet at one penny, though you can choose to set higher limits. All players must also contribute their ante (initially agreed upon amount) into the pot before starting the game.

Step 3: Shuffle the Deck and Deal the Cards

Thoroughly shuffle the deck of cards and deal two face-down cards to each player. The remaining deck is placed facedown on the table in a central location.

Step 4: The First betting Round

Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, players take turns placing bets and making decisions. They can either fold (give up on their hand), call (match the highest bet that has been placed so far), or raise (increase their bet).

Step 5: The Draw Phase

Once the first round of betting is complete, beginning with the player left of the dealer, players may discard up to three cards from their hand and replace them with new cards from the top of the deck. This is known as drawing new cards.

Step 6: The Second Betting Round

After all players have completed their draws, there is another round of betting. Similar to step 4, players can fold, call or raise during this round.

Step 7: The Showdown

If more than one player remains after the second betting round, those still competing will reveal their hands in a showdown to determine who has the best hand according to standard poker hand rankings.

Step 8: Determine the Winner

The player with the highest-ranking hand wins the game and collects the pot. If more than one player shares the same hand rank, the pot is divided equally among the winners.

Step 9: Start a New Game (Optional)

If desired, continue playing by starting a new game. Rotate dealers in a clockwise direction and rejoin steps 1 through 9. This can be repeated as long as players wish to keep playing penny ante.