What is a Poker Run?

Basically, a poker run is a fund-raising event patterned after the card game of poker and is generally held by motorcyclist. However, any vehicle-based organization can hold a poker run. Instead of sitting down at a table and having the cards dealt by a dealer, the participants travel to several different locations or stops to draw their poker chip or card. Poker run organizers usually develop a unique or scenic route connecting the stops. At each stop, participants draw a single poker chip or card and then travel to the next location, eventually building their 5-card poker hand. The run normally takes approximately 2 hours to complete.

How does it work?

Participants initially register at a designated location where they purchase one or more tally sheets (hands) that are used to record the poker chips or cards drawn at each stop. Instead of drawing playing cards and then having to determine the best or worst poker hand, the Tulsa Poker Run uses numbered poker chips.

The participants start by taking their tally sheet(s) to the first stop where a volunteer has a container filled with a bag of chips, numbered 1 to 75. Participants stir the chips and draw one chip for each tally sheet they purchased. The volunteers observe the number on the chip(s) drawn and annotate it on the tally sheet(s). The participants then travel to the next stop with their tally sheet.

After drawing their fifth chip at the final stop, the participants give their tally sheets to other volunteers who will tally the sheets and determine the winning hands. Prizes are normally given to the top two hands (highest and 2nd highest point totals) and also to the worst hand drawn (lowest point total) by participants in the poker run.

Now you know what we mean by a "Poker Run"!