PLAYING TIPS for MAYAN PYRAMID POKER
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HOW TO PLAY MAYAN PYRAMID (Big Pyramid) Poker:
Mayan Pyramid Poker is a variation of Omaha. Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board cards are placed face down and consist of 9 cards arranged in the shape of a pyramid of 3 horizontal levels or rows. See diagram below. The bottom level has 4 cards, the middle level 3 cards and at the top level has 2 cards. Players make their hand by using exactly 2 of their hole cards plus just 1 card from each of the levels (i.e. 1 card of 4 from the bottom level, 1 of 3 cards from the middle level plus 1 of the 2 cards at the top level.) Reveal each level starting with the bottom 4, then middle 3 and, finally, the top 2, with a round of betting between. May be played high-low split. C C
B B B A A A A |
SUMMARY of ACTION
Deal 4 hole cards to each player. Arrange board cards. Bet Reveal 4 cards of the bottom row (A). Bet Reveal 3 cards of the middle row (B). Bet Reveal 2 cards of the top row (C). Bet High only or Hi-Lo Cards Speak: Showdown High-Low Declaration: Declare Bet Showdown |
PYRAMID POKER ALTERATIONS
Any of the Pyramid games may be altered by increasing or decreasing the number of cards present in each row. For example, you could try a variation of Mayan Pyramid that uses just 1 card in the top row instead of 2. Or, you could have 5 cards in the bottom level instead of 4. Keep in mind that adding cards makes the average winning hand higher while decreasing the number of cards lowers the average winning hand.
Any of the Pyramid games may be altered by increasing or decreasing the number of cards present in each row. For example, you could try a variation of Mayan Pyramid that uses just 1 card in the top row instead of 2. Or, you could have 5 cards in the bottom level instead of 4. Keep in mind that adding cards makes the average winning hand higher while decreasing the number of cards lowers the average winning hand.
PLAYING TIPS for MAYAN PYRAMID POKER
In Mayan Pyramid poker there are 9 board cards that come into play. This creates a total of 24 three card combinations on the board. There are many opportunities to draw the cards you want, and it is easier to draw big hands, both high and low. It also gives more opportunities for what started out as the best hand to be counterfeited, especially for the low hand. On the other hand, with so many common cards to choose from, even a mediocre starting hand can emerge a winner. Mayan Pyramid poker can be a crap shoot.
In Mayan Pyramid poker there are 9 board cards that come into play. This creates a total of 24 three card combinations on the board. There are many opportunities to draw the cards you want, and it is easier to draw big hands, both high and low. It also gives more opportunities for what started out as the best hand to be counterfeited, especially for the low hand. On the other hand, with so many common cards to choose from, even a mediocre starting hand can emerge a winner. Mayan Pyramid poker can be a crap shoot.
STARTING HAND SELECTION
In Omaha based games 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 excellent high and low potential: A♣ A ♥K♣ 2♥, K♥ K♠ 2♥ A♠, A♠ A♦2♦3♠.
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♦). 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. This will require that an eligible pair appear on the board. (An eligible or qualifying pair is one where the 2 paired cards appear in different rows.) 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, though you could consider seeing the first row of board cards. 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. You don't want to see trips in your 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 Mayan Pyramid having low cards that are even a 2 card draw to the nuts (4A, 42, 43) can be 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 your low, as there are other cards that could save you, 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.
In Omaha based games 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 excellent high and low potential: A♣ A ♥K♣ 2♥, K♥ K♠ 2♥ A♠, A♠ A♦2♦3♠.
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♦). 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. This will require that an eligible pair appear on the board. (An eligible or qualifying pair is one where the 2 paired cards appear in different rows.) 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, though you could consider seeing the first row of board cards. 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. You don't want to see trips in your 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 Mayan Pyramid having low cards that are even a 2 card draw to the nuts (4A, 42, 43) can be 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 your low, as there are other cards that could save you, 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.