PLAYING TIPS for DOUBLE HOT OMAHA POKER
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 |
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 a equal chance that any card may appear. In contrast, the board cards in Double Hot Omaha poker are not random. The board consists of cards that have been seen and selected by the players. The board is "hot" meaning the board is 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 a equal chance that any card may appear. In contrast, the board cards in Double Hot Omaha poker are not random. The board consists of cards that have been seen and selected by the players. The board is "hot" meaning the board is 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.
STARTING HAND SELECTION
In Omaha based games 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. This is especially true for low hands. It is common for 1 or more players to be starting with the best low. 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.
For high having 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. But, 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. You don't want to see trips in you hand since you can only use 2 cards.
For low 2A is the best and really the only start you want. Even though 3A or 32 are only a one card draw to the nuts, the nature of the game makes it hard for them to become the best. Unfortunately, when you have only 2 low cards in your hand there is about a 60% probability that one of them will appear on the board. This does not always mean your low is counterfeited as there are other cards that could appear that save you. But, it does mean that there is a high probability it is. For that reason a protected low like 32A or 42A is a far better hand. Whenever you hold one of these low hands with an ace you'd prefer the ace to be suited to one of your other cards.
In Omaha based games 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. This is especially true for low hands. It is common for 1 or more players to be starting with the best low. 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.
For high having 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. But, 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. You don't want to see trips in you hand since you can only use 2 cards.
For low 2A is the best and really the only start you want. Even though 3A or 32 are only a one card draw to the nuts, the nature of the game makes it hard for them to become the best. Unfortunately, when you have only 2 low cards in your hand there is about a 60% probability that one of them will appear on the board. This does not always mean your low is counterfeited as there are other cards that could appear that save you. But, it does mean that there is a high probability it is. For that reason a protected low like 32A or 42A is a far better hand. Whenever you hold one of these low hands with an ace you'd prefer the ace to be suited to one of your other cards.
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 make up 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 make up 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.