PLAYING TIPS for KITE TAIL POKER
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HOW TO PLAY KITE TAIL POKER:
Kite Tail Poker is a variation of Omaha. Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board cards are placed face down and consist of 9 cards. 6 cards form the "kite". The remaining 3 cards make up the "tail". See diagram below. Players make their hand by using exactly 2 of their hole cards along with 3 cards from one half of the "kite" cards plus the 3 "tail" cards (ABCXYZ or DEFXYZ). Begin by revealing the 6 cards that make up the "kite" (ABC and DEF), then cards X & Y, and finally card Z (the "tail" cards). A round of betting occurs after the deal and after reach reveal. May be played high-low split. A B C
X Y Z D E F |
SUMMARY of ACTION
Deal 4 hole cards to each player. Arrange board cards. Bet Reveal 6 cards (ABC) and (DEF). Reveal 2 cards (XY) Bet Reveal 1 card (Z) Bet High only or Hi-Lo Cards Speak: Showdown High-Low Declaration: Declare Bet Showdown |
PLAYING TIPS for KITE TAIL POKER
In Kite Tail poker players have a choice of 3 cards from among two rows of 6 cards. This makes a total of 39 different three card combinations on the board. That's a huge number of combinations in play making for many opportunities to draw the cards you want and much easier to draw big hands, both high and low. With the high number of common card combinations in play just about any starting hand can emerge a winner. More often than not, a pair or two will appear on the board making a full house the most common high hand winner.
In Kite Tail poker players have a choice of 3 cards from among two rows of 6 cards. This makes a total of 39 different three card combinations on the board. That's a huge number of combinations in play making for many opportunities to draw the cards you want and much easier to draw big hands, both high and low. With the high number of common card combinations in play just about any starting hand can emerge a winner. More often than not, a pair or two will appear on the board making a full house the most common high hand winner.
STARTING HAND SELECTION
In Omaha based games you want to be 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 or, occasionally, flush or the best low. Combining elements of good starting low and high hands gives you the best shot.
For the high hand you want high cards and the higher the better. Having a high pair or two is a good start, especially when they are also coordinated to other cards. (For example A♣ A♦ K♣ K♦ or A♣ A♦ K♣ Q♦) You will be dealt any 2 pair about 3% of the time and any one pair about 30%. Should you then flop a set you now have a good draw to a full house or better. But, if you do, be careful if the pair on the board is of a rank higher than your trips. Suited high connected cards are helpful for both drawing high full houses and flushes. Unsuited cards are best if they are very high cards; low and middling cards tend to make mediocre high hands. High suited cards, preferably an ace (like A♣ A♦ 2♣ 3♦) with a small card give full house, 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 start. 3A or 32 gives you a one card draw to the nuts. In fact, in Kite Tail low cards that are even a 2 card draw to the nuts (4A, 42, 43) are worth playing. Unfortunately, having only 2 low cards in your hand is a very vulnerable hand. There is a good chance that one of them will appear on the board. With all the cards out there that may not necessarily ruin you low, but there is a good chance it will. For that reason a protected low like 32A or 42A is a far better starting 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 to add flush potential.
In Omaha based games you want to be 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 or, occasionally, flush or the best low. Combining elements of good starting low and high hands gives you the best shot.
For the high hand you want high cards and the higher the better. Having a high pair or two is a good start, especially when they are also coordinated to other cards. (For example A♣ A♦ K♣ K♦ or A♣ A♦ K♣ Q♦) You will be dealt any 2 pair about 3% of the time and any one pair about 30%. Should you then flop a set you now have a good draw to a full house or better. But, if you do, be careful if the pair on the board is of a rank higher than your trips. Suited high connected cards are helpful for both drawing high full houses and flushes. Unsuited cards are best if they are very high cards; low and middling cards tend to make mediocre high hands. High suited cards, preferably an ace (like A♣ A♦ 2♣ 3♦) with a small card give full house, 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 start. 3A or 32 gives you a one card draw to the nuts. In fact, in Kite Tail low cards that are even a 2 card draw to the nuts (4A, 42, 43) are worth playing. Unfortunately, having only 2 low cards in your hand is a very vulnerable hand. There is a good chance that one of them will appear on the board. With all the cards out there that may not necessarily ruin you low, but there is a good chance it will. For that reason a protected low like 32A or 42A is a far better starting 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 to add flush potential.