PLAYING TIPS for FRAME-UP POKER
HOW TO PLAY FRAME UP POKER:
Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board cards consist of 8 cards arranged in the shape of a frame (or square) consisting of 3 cards on each side. See diagram below. Players must make their hand by using exactly 2 of their hole cards, plus the 3 cards that make up any one side of the frame (ABC, CDE, EFG, GHA). Initially reveal all at once 4 cards that are in the middle of each side. Thereafter, reveal just one card at a time in this order: top left, bottom right, bottom left, top right. A round of betting occurs between the revealing of the card(s). May be played high-low split. A B C
H D G F E |
SUMMARY of ACTION
Deal 4 hole cards to each player. Arrange board cards. Bet Reveal 4 cards from the middle of each side. (B, D, F, H) Bet Reveal the top left card (A). Bet Reveal bottom right card (E). Bet Reveal bottom left card (G). Bet Reveal top right card (C). Bet High only or Hi-Lo Cards Speak: Showdown High-Low Declaration: Declare Bet Showdown |
PLAYING TIPS for FRAME-UP POKER
In Frame-Up poker there are only 4 three card combinations that can be made from the common board cards. This is significantly fewer than most Omaha based games. Not only that, but it is quite easy for the 3 card combinations to be very uncoordinated commonly eliminating flush possibilities. Additionally, a pair will appear on the board no more than 50% of the time and even when does the chances of someone making a full house are diminished compared to "standard" Omaha. How uncoordinated or coordinated the board cards are will determine the usual winning hand. This is especially true when a straight or flush is the best possible hand and for the low hand if playing a high-low version. When these are possible you will probably need the best to win.
In Frame-Up poker there are only 4 three card combinations that can be made from the common board cards. This is significantly fewer than most Omaha based games. Not only that, but it is quite easy for the 3 card combinations to be very uncoordinated commonly eliminating flush possibilities. Additionally, a pair will appear on the board no more than 50% of the time and even when does the chances of someone making a full house are diminished compared to "standard" Omaha. How uncoordinated or coordinated the board cards are will determine the usual winning hand. This is especially true when a straight or flush is the best possible hand and for the low hand if playing a high-low version. When these are possible you will probably need the best to win.
STARTING HAND SELECTION
In Omaha based games like Frame-Up you want to have been dealt a hand that gives many possibilities for winning. With 4 hole cards, there are 6 couples of 2 cards available. The more the couples are coordinated, the better the starting hand. Strong starting holdings are those that have multiple chances of leading to a winning full house, flush, straight or the best low. Combining elements of good starting low and high hands gives you the best shot. Some examples of starting hands with both high and low potential: A♣ A ♥K♣ 2♥, K♥ K♠ 2♥ A♠, A♠ A♦2♦3♠.
For high having one or two high pair is a decent start. (In 4 cards you will be dealt 2 pair about 3% of the time and a single pair about 30%) You have a small possibility of getting a full house, but most of the time trips is the best you'll get so the higher your pair(s) the better.
Several connected cards will be helpful for straights and a straight is often the best possible hand. Flushes require that all 3 cards of one side be suited and that does not occur often. Thus, suited cards, though better than unsuited, are only marginally more valuable. Trips in your hand are worthless since you can only use 2 of your hole cards.
For low 2A is the best start. 3A or 32 gives you a one card draw to the nuts, and either is absolutely playable. Unfortunately, when you have only 2 low cards in your hand there is a pretty good possibility that one of them will appear on the board. That does not always mean your low is counterfeited as one of the other rows may save you. But you must check the board carefully to determine if it is or not. 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 like Frame-Up you want to have been dealt a hand that gives many possibilities for winning. With 4 hole cards, there are 6 couples of 2 cards available. The more the couples are coordinated, the better the starting hand. Strong starting holdings are those that have multiple chances of leading to a winning full house, flush, straight or the best low. Combining elements of good starting low and high hands gives you the best shot. Some examples of starting hands with both high and low potential: A♣ A ♥K♣ 2♥, K♥ K♠ 2♥ A♠, A♠ A♦2♦3♠.
For high having one or two high pair is a decent start. (In 4 cards you will be dealt 2 pair about 3% of the time and a single pair about 30%) You have a small possibility of getting a full house, but most of the time trips is the best you'll get so the higher your pair(s) the better.
Several connected cards will be helpful for straights and a straight is often the best possible hand. Flushes require that all 3 cards of one side be suited and that does not occur often. Thus, suited cards, though better than unsuited, are only marginally more valuable. Trips in your hand are worthless since you can only use 2 of your hole cards.
For low 2A is the best start. 3A or 32 gives you a one card draw to the nuts, and either is absolutely playable. Unfortunately, when you have only 2 low cards in your hand there is a pretty good possibility that one of them will appear on the board. That does not always mean your low is counterfeited as one of the other rows may save you. But you must check the board carefully to determine if it is or not. 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.