PLAYING TIPS for HOT & COLD OMAHA POKER
HOW TO PLAY HOT & COLD OMAHA POKER:
Played like Omaha with this twist: Deal 5 cards down to each player. Before any betting each player must discard one hole card face down in the middle of the table, leaving them with 4 hole cards. The discards are shuffled or mixed together. The 3 flop cards are drawn from these discarded cards. The turn and river cards are dealt from the remaining deck. May be played high, high-low split or high-low eight or better. |
SUMMARY of ACTION:
Deal 5 hole cards to each player. Each player selects 1 card from their hand and discards it face down. Gather and mix/shuffle all discarded cards. Bet Deal 3 cards from discards as flop. Bet Deal 1 card from deck as turn. Bet Deal 1 card from deck as river. Bet High only: Showdown High-low split: Declare Bet Showdown |
Hot & Cold Omaha combines features of Omaha and Omaha-5 (Hot Omaha). Three out of the 5 board cards in Hot & Cold Omaha poker have been seen and selected by the players. As a result, they are not random and there is some degree of predictability in what cards might appear in the flop. However, since the turn and river cards are dealt from the remaining unseen deck, they are random and, therefore, not predictable. This combination of features results in an interesting game where even the best pre-flop and post-flop decisions can be negated once the remaining cards are revealed.
PLAYING TIPS for HOT & COLD OMAHA POKER
In Hot & Cold Omaha the flop will consist of cards that have been seen and selected by the players. As we shall see, there is some level of predictability in what cards may appear in the flop (a condition we term "hot"). However, since the turn and river are dealt from the remaining deck, they are random and, therefore, not predictable (a condition we term "cold").
The main consideration and decision in Hot & Cold Omaha involve trying to strike a balance between these competing factors:
1. The card you discard pre-flop should be of some value to your hand if it re-appears in the flop.
2. The card you discard pre-flop should be of minimal value to your opponents if it re-appears in the flop.
3. The 4 cards you keep should be the ones your opponents are more likely to discard to the flop cards.
In Hot & Cold Omaha the flop will consist of cards that have been seen and selected by the players. As we shall see, there is some level of predictability in what cards may appear in the flop (a condition we term "hot"). However, since the turn and river are dealt from the remaining deck, they are random and, therefore, not predictable (a condition we term "cold").
The main consideration and decision in Hot & Cold Omaha involve trying to strike a balance between these competing factors:
1. The card you discard pre-flop should be of some value to your hand if it re-appears in the flop.
2. The card you discard pre-flop should be of minimal value to your opponents if it re-appears in the flop.
3. The 4 cards you keep should be the ones your opponents are more likely to discard to the flop cards.
STARTING HAND SELECTION
In Omaha based games you want to start with cards that gives many possibilities for winning. Since each player starts with 5 cards and can select the most advantageous cards to keep you should expect that stronger and better coordinated starting hands are present. This is especially true for low hands and it is not uncommon 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. 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.
Trips as hole cards improve your chances of making a set on the flop, by discarding one of those cards and hope it reappears in the flop. But, when that does not occur (which is more often than not) that advantage vanishes since that desired card is completely removed from further play. Be cautious, as low sets or low full houses can 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 your original 5 cards you will be dealt any 2 pair about 5% of the time and any one pair about 42%. 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, (for example A♣ A♦ 7♠ 9♥) ♥) are not good starting hands. Suited high connected cards are helpful for both straights and flushes. Unsuited connectors are best if they are high cards or low cards; middling connectors tend to make mediocre straights 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. With an ace as high card it's great. Suited to a king is OK. Anything less could be problematic. Drawing to something like a ten-high flush would be a poor starting hand decision.
Reasonable Hot & Cold Omaha Poker strategy is essentially the same as is used in Omaha. Favor starting hands that contain a pair, suited aces, other suited and/or connected cards or multiple Broadway cards. A pair, especially a low one, may be split to be kept with a suited ace. Your best bet is to play starting hands that can make 3 of a kind or better.
Starting hands for playing high-low split are discussed in a later section.
In Omaha based games you want to start with cards that gives many possibilities for winning. Since each player starts with 5 cards and can select the most advantageous cards to keep you should expect that stronger and better coordinated starting hands are present. This is especially true for low hands and it is not uncommon 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. 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.
Trips as hole cards improve your chances of making a set on the flop, by discarding one of those cards and hope it reappears in the flop. But, when that does not occur (which is more often than not) that advantage vanishes since that desired card is completely removed from further play. Be cautious, as low sets or low full houses can 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 your original 5 cards you will be dealt any 2 pair about 5% of the time and any one pair about 42%. 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, (for example A♣ A♦ 7♠ 9♥) ♥) are not good starting hands. Suited high connected cards are helpful for both straights and flushes. Unsuited connectors are best if they are high cards or low cards; middling connectors tend to make mediocre straights 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. With an ace as high card it's great. Suited to a king is OK. Anything less could be problematic. Drawing to something like a ten-high flush would be a poor starting hand decision.
Reasonable Hot & Cold Omaha Poker strategy is essentially the same as is used in Omaha. Favor starting hands that contain a pair, suited aces, other suited and/or connected cards or multiple Broadway cards. A pair, especially a low one, may be split to be kept with a suited ace. Your best bet is to play starting hands that can make 3 of a kind or better.
Starting hands for playing high-low split are discussed in a later section.
PROBABILITIES FOR 5 CARD HIGH HANDS
Approximate probabilities of being dealt these HIGH hands as your 5 hole cards
Approximate probabilities of being dealt these HIGH hands as your 5 hole cards
5 Card Hand
3 of a Kind 2 Pair 1 Pair |
Percent Probability/Odds
2.11% (46:1) 4.75% (20:1) 42.3% (1.4:1) |