PLAYING TIPS for DOUBLE HOT OMAHA POKER
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HOW TO PLAY DOUBLE HOT OMAHA Poker:
Played like Double Omaha with this twist: Deal 6 cards face down to each player (maximum of 8 players for this game). Before any betting each player must discard 2 cards face down in the middle of the table, leaving them with 4 hole cards. The discards are shuffled or mixed together. 10 of these cards are used for the flops, turns and rivers to create 2 sets of board cards. Play continues exactly like Double Omaha (if played high only) or Double Omaha High-Low (if played high-low split). |
SUMMARY of ACTION
Deal 6 hole cards to each player. Each player selects 2 cards from their hand and discards them face down. Gather and mix/shuffle all discarded cards. Use these cards to deal 2 flops, turns and rivers. Bet Deal Flop #1: 3 cards from discards to create 1st flop. Deal Flop #2: 3 cards from discards to create 2nd flop. Bet Deal Turn #1: 1 card from discards to 1st flop. Deal Turn #2: 1 card from discards to 2nd flop. Bet Deal River #1: 1 card from discards to 1st flop & turn. Deal River #2: 1 card from discards to 2nd flop & turn. Bet High only: Showdown High-low split: Declare Bet Showdown |
There is an enormous amount of information that can be very helpful in playing just about any version of Omaha, including Double Hot Omaha. These playing tips do not to get into any of that knowledge. What they do is point out the differences of Double Hot Omaha compared to "regular" Omaha and suggest how to play in a way that accounts for those differences.
PLAYING TIPS for DOUBLE HOT OMAHA POKER
In Omaha the flop, turn and river consist of random cards that come from the unseen deck. There is an equal chance that any card may appear. In contrast, the board cards in Double Hot Omaha poker have been seen and selected by the players. Those cards then come back into play as the 2 sets of board cards. We call the boards "hot" meaning they are more likely to contain some cards and less likely to contain others depending upon how valuable they seem to players. Predicting what those cards are is one of the important objectives in playing Double Hot Omaha poker.
Double Hot Omaha should be considered a game of the nuts, meaning that it is usually the case that you will need the very best possible hand to win.
A straight is almost never the best possible hand. A flush seldom is. With 2 sets of board cards a pair or 2 appears frequently. A full house (preferably one of the better ones) is the usual winner.
In Omaha the flop, turn and river consist of random cards that come from the unseen deck. There is an equal chance that any card may appear. In contrast, the board cards in Double Hot Omaha poker have been seen and selected by the players. Those cards then come back into play as the 2 sets of board cards. We call the boards "hot" meaning they are more likely to contain some cards and less likely to contain others depending upon how valuable they seem to players. Predicting what those cards are is one of the important objectives in playing Double Hot Omaha poker.
Double Hot Omaha should be considered a game of the nuts, meaning that it is usually the case that you will need the very best possible hand to win.
A straight is almost never the best possible hand. A flush seldom is. With 2 sets of board cards a pair or 2 appears frequently. A full house (preferably one of the better ones) is the usual winner.
Double Hot Omaha Poker strategy corresponds to "standard" Omaha strategy, but it also has features that can make a significant difference:
1. In Double Hot Omaha you are initially dealt 6 cards. You will be dealt more pocket pairs (maybe 2 pairs). There will be many more suited, connected and high ranked hole cards - hands that you and your opponents will want to at least see the flop with. It is highly likely that multiple players will be in each hand.
2. There are 2 sets of board cards. There are twice as many hand combinations in play. Double Hot Omaha will typically involve multiple players and require a strong final hand in order to win.
3. You have an important decision to make that can significantly impact the game. This decision is selecting 2 cards to remove from your hand, but that may come back into play.
1. In Double Hot Omaha you are initially dealt 6 cards. You will be dealt more pocket pairs (maybe 2 pairs). There will be many more suited, connected and high ranked hole cards - hands that you and your opponents will want to at least see the flop with. It is highly likely that multiple players will be in each hand.
2. There are 2 sets of board cards. There are twice as many hand combinations in play. Double Hot Omaha will typically involve multiple players and require a strong final hand in order to win.
3. You have an important decision to make that can significantly impact the game. This decision is selecting 2 cards to remove from your hand, but that may come back into play.
STARTING HAND SELECTION
In any poker game you want to start with cards that gives many possibilities for winning. Since each player starts with 6 cards and can select the most advantageous cards to keep you should expect that much stronger and better coordinated starting hands are present. More pairs are also in play. All in all, it is much more probable that players are able to combine elements of both strong starting low and high hands. Players are dealt more hands that they will want to continue with.
Unlike "standard" Omaha games, starting hands like trips, 3-suited, 3-connected cards are the most desirable Double Hot Omaha starting hands. That is because those hands will be improved should the discarded card reappear on the board.
Trips as hole cards improve your chances of making a set or full house or even quads. But they can be variable in their strength dependent on their rank. Low sets or low full houses may be vulnerable and could cost you a lot of money before you find out if they are a winner or merely second best.
A high pair or two is a good start, provided they are also coordinated to other cards. (For example, A♣ A♦ 2♣ 3♦ or A♣ A♦ K♣ K♦). Out of the original 6 cards, you will be dealt any 2 pair about 12% of the time and any one pair about 48%. Should you then flop a set you now have a good draw to a full house or better. Be careful if that pair is of a rank higher than your trips. Without additional coordination single pairs alone (even aces) are not a good starting hand. Suited high connected cards are helpful for flushes. Other cards are best if they are very high cards or very low cards; middling cards tend to make mediocre full houses and lows. High suited cards, preferably an ace with a small card give both nut flush and low hand possibilities. If you catch a flush that is not the nuts be careful.
Three hole cards of the same suit improve your chances of making a flush. Your play would be to discard the lowest ranked card and hope it reappears on the board. But, their value, or lack of value, greatly depends on the ranks. Suited aces are great as they can make the nuts. Suited to a king is OK. Anything less could be problematic. Drawing to something like a ten-high flush with TT♦ 6♦ 3♦ would be a poor starting hand decision.
Other cards are best if they are very high cards or very low cards; middling cards tend to make mediocre full houses and lows. High suited cards, preferably an ace with a small card give both nut flush and low hand possibilities. If you catch a flush that is not the nuts be careful.
To summarize, reasonable Double Hot Omaha Poker strategy is to favor starting hands that contain high pairs, suited aces, other suited and/or connected cards or multiple Broadway cards. Your best bet is to play starting hands that can make 3 of a kind or better. Since each player starts with 6 cards and can select the most advantageous four cards to keep you should expect that stronger and better coordinated starting hands are present. All in all, it is much more probable that players are able to combine elements of both strong starting high and low hands.
There are some situations when hole cards are appealing to play in Omaha but are less valuable in Double Hot Omaha. Here are some examples.
For high, do not count on a pocket pair of aces of kings becoming trips. (Kings might; aces probably not.) You can't risk dumping them as it will most likely help other players. They may still have a little value if suited and connected to other cards in your hand.
Since players are more likely to discard similar cards expect that the board cards are likely to be concentrated toward lower and middle ranked cards. With 2 sets of board cards and players being more likely to discard similar cards expect to see board pairs very often. The result is more frequent full houses and quads (which is what you should be playing for) and far less chance for straights or flushes being winners.
In any poker game you want to start with cards that gives many possibilities for winning. Since each player starts with 6 cards and can select the most advantageous cards to keep you should expect that much stronger and better coordinated starting hands are present. More pairs are also in play. All in all, it is much more probable that players are able to combine elements of both strong starting low and high hands. Players are dealt more hands that they will want to continue with.
Unlike "standard" Omaha games, starting hands like trips, 3-suited, 3-connected cards are the most desirable Double Hot Omaha starting hands. That is because those hands will be improved should the discarded card reappear on the board.
Trips as hole cards improve your chances of making a set or full house or even quads. But they can be variable in their strength dependent on their rank. Low sets or low full houses may be vulnerable and could cost you a lot of money before you find out if they are a winner or merely second best.
A high pair or two is a good start, provided they are also coordinated to other cards. (For example, A♣ A♦ 2♣ 3♦ or A♣ A♦ K♣ K♦). Out of the original 6 cards, you will be dealt any 2 pair about 12% of the time and any one pair about 48%. Should you then flop a set you now have a good draw to a full house or better. Be careful if that pair is of a rank higher than your trips. Without additional coordination single pairs alone (even aces) are not a good starting hand. Suited high connected cards are helpful for flushes. Other cards are best if they are very high cards or very low cards; middling cards tend to make mediocre full houses and lows. High suited cards, preferably an ace with a small card give both nut flush and low hand possibilities. If you catch a flush that is not the nuts be careful.
Three hole cards of the same suit improve your chances of making a flush. Your play would be to discard the lowest ranked card and hope it reappears on the board. But, their value, or lack of value, greatly depends on the ranks. Suited aces are great as they can make the nuts. Suited to a king is OK. Anything less could be problematic. Drawing to something like a ten-high flush with TT♦ 6♦ 3♦ would be a poor starting hand decision.
Other cards are best if they are very high cards or very low cards; middling cards tend to make mediocre full houses and lows. High suited cards, preferably an ace with a small card give both nut flush and low hand possibilities. If you catch a flush that is not the nuts be careful.
To summarize, reasonable Double Hot Omaha Poker strategy is to favor starting hands that contain high pairs, suited aces, other suited and/or connected cards or multiple Broadway cards. Your best bet is to play starting hands that can make 3 of a kind or better. Since each player starts with 6 cards and can select the most advantageous four cards to keep you should expect that stronger and better coordinated starting hands are present. All in all, it is much more probable that players are able to combine elements of both strong starting high and low hands.
There are some situations when hole cards are appealing to play in Omaha but are less valuable in Double Hot Omaha. Here are some examples.
For high, do not count on a pocket pair of aces of kings becoming trips. (Kings might; aces probably not.) You can't risk dumping them as it will most likely help other players. They may still have a little value if suited and connected to other cards in your hand.
Since players are more likely to discard similar cards expect that the board cards are likely to be concentrated toward lower and middle ranked cards. With 2 sets of board cards and players being more likely to discard similar cards expect to see board pairs very often. The result is more frequent full houses and quads (which is what you should be playing for) and far less chance for straights or flushes being winners.
PRE-FLOP STRATEGY IMPACTS THE BOARD CARDS
As explained, ten of the cards that are discarded come back into play as the board cards. In an 8 handed game there is approximately an 87% chance that at least one card a player discards will come back into play and about 65% that both cards will. Keeping that in mind the first objective is that, whenever possible, you want to discard cards that will help your hand if it re-appears. For example, if you held 3 of a kind, you would discard one of them as you would love to see it back on the board. Likewise, when holding 3 of the same suit.
A second objective is to attempt to keep cards that the other players are more inclined to discard, especially pairs or the higher ranks of those cards.
Cards that players will most likely keep are any ace, very high cards, pairs, suited and unsuited connected cards. Players are far more likely to keep their highest cards and discard low cards unless paired or suited to an ace or king. The cards they are most likely to discard are low to middle ranked cards and any other card that is not well coordinated with their other four.
Ace: As the highest card an ace will almost always be kept. May consider discarding only if not paired, not suited, not connected with other high cards (KQJT), they hold another pair. Even in those circumstances discarding an ace will almost certainly help another player if it reappears on the board.
Broadway cards (Ten through King): Will typically be kept if suited, connected (including gapped) or paired. The higher the rank, the more likely it will be kept.
Medium ranked cards (6 through 9): - Will often be discarded unless suited to ace or another high card, is paired or suited-connected. The lower the rank, the more likely it will be discarded.
Low ranked cards (5 through 2): Will discard unless suited to ace or another high card, paired or suited connected. The lower the rank, the more likely it will be discarded. Playing high-low split favors low card combinations and is covered in a later section.
As explained, ten of the cards that are discarded come back into play as the board cards. In an 8 handed game there is approximately an 87% chance that at least one card a player discards will come back into play and about 65% that both cards will. Keeping that in mind the first objective is that, whenever possible, you want to discard cards that will help your hand if it re-appears. For example, if you held 3 of a kind, you would discard one of them as you would love to see it back on the board. Likewise, when holding 3 of the same suit.
A second objective is to attempt to keep cards that the other players are more inclined to discard, especially pairs or the higher ranks of those cards.
Cards that players will most likely keep are any ace, very high cards, pairs, suited and unsuited connected cards. Players are far more likely to keep their highest cards and discard low cards unless paired or suited to an ace or king. The cards they are most likely to discard are low to middle ranked cards and any other card that is not well coordinated with their other four.
Ace: As the highest card an ace will almost always be kept. May consider discarding only if not paired, not suited, not connected with other high cards (KQJT), they hold another pair. Even in those circumstances discarding an ace will almost certainly help another player if it reappears on the board.
Broadway cards (Ten through King): Will typically be kept if suited, connected (including gapped) or paired. The higher the rank, the more likely it will be kept.
Medium ranked cards (6 through 9): - Will often be discarded unless suited to ace or another high card, is paired or suited-connected. The lower the rank, the more likely it will be discarded.
Low ranked cards (5 through 2): Will discard unless suited to ace or another high card, paired or suited connected. The lower the rank, the more likely it will be discarded. Playing high-low split favors low card combinations and is covered in a later section.
Granted, this is not always easy to accomplish these goals. There will often be contradictory pros and cons about what to keep and what to discard, but it is still the objective. Some examples may help.
Example: Your 6 hole cards are 277889.
The deuce is easy as it is not coordinated with any other card you hold. What should be the 2nd card? At first thought it may seem that it is the 9 that should be discarded since it is not paired. But if it is what is its value if it re-appears? It has only minor value by being connected to 78. If another player holds a pair of 9's discarding your 9 helps him enormously. He will have trips higher than any trips you can make. If he makes a full house 9's full will be higher than any full house of yours. What if you discarded a 7? If it re-appears you have your pair back. No one else is likely to hold the other pair of 7's or 8's. And since unpaired middle cards are the ones most other players will discard it is likely additional 7's, 8's or 9's will appear.
On the other hand, if your cards were 278899 it makes sense to discard the unmatched 7 along with the deuce. Now it is you who have the draw to the higher trips and full houses.
Example: Your 6 hole cards are 277889.
The deuce is easy as it is not coordinated with any other card you hold. What should be the 2nd card? At first thought it may seem that it is the 9 that should be discarded since it is not paired. But if it is what is its value if it re-appears? It has only minor value by being connected to 78. If another player holds a pair of 9's discarding your 9 helps him enormously. He will have trips higher than any trips you can make. If he makes a full house 9's full will be higher than any full house of yours. What if you discarded a 7? If it re-appears you have your pair back. No one else is likely to hold the other pair of 7's or 8's. And since unpaired middle cards are the ones most other players will discard it is likely additional 7's, 8's or 9's will appear.
On the other hand, if your cards were 278899 it makes sense to discard the unmatched 7 along with the deuce. Now it is you who have the draw to the higher trips and full houses.
THE BOARD CARDS ARE THE DIFFERENCE
It is important to think about what the other players will do. What cards will they most likely keep? What cards will they most likely contribute to the board cards? These two decisions are very important for they will both influence what you will do as well as the eventual makeup of the 2 sets of board cards.
As will be shown, the board cards are likely to be concentrated toward middle ranked cards. As a result, and with 2 sets of board cards, it is highly likely that at least 1 pair or more will be in play.
It is important to think about what the other players will do. What cards will they most likely keep? What cards will they most likely contribute to the board cards? These two decisions are very important for they will both influence what you will do as well as the eventual makeup of the 2 sets of board cards.
As will be shown, the board cards are likely to be concentrated toward middle ranked cards. As a result, and with 2 sets of board cards, it is highly likely that at least 1 pair or more will be in play.