PLAYING TIPS for PYRAMID 1-2-3 POKER
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HOW TO PLAY PYRAMID 1-2-3 Poker:
Pyramid 1-2-3 Poker is a variation of Omaha. Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board cards are placed face down and consist of 6 cards arranged in the shape of a pyramid of 3 horizontal levels or rows. See diagram below. The bottom level has 3 cards, the middle level 2 cards and at the top is a single card. Players make their hand by using exactly 2 of their hole cards plus just 1 card from each of the levels (ie. 1 card of 3 from the bottom level, 1 of 2 cards from the middle level plus the sole card at the top level.) Reveal cards in the following order. 1st: 1 card from the bottom level. 2nd: 1 card from the bottom level and 1 card from the middle level (ie. 2 cards total). 3rd: 1 card from bottom level, 1 card from middle level and the single top card (i.e.. a total of 3 cards). There is a round of betting between. May be played high-low split but avoid 8 or better versions as a qualifying low is completely dependent on the single top card. |
SUMMARY of ACTION
Deal 4 hole cards to each player. Arrange board cards. Bet Reveal 1 card from the bottom row. Bet Reveal 1 card from bottom row & 1 card from middle row (2 cards total) Bet Reveal 1 card from each row (3 cards total) Bet High only or Hi-Lo Cards Speak: Showdown High-Low Declaration: Declare Bet Showdown |
C
B B
A A A
B B
A A A
PLAYING TIPS for PYRAMID 1-2-3 POKER
In Pyramid 1-2-3 Poker all hands must include the single top card of the pyramid so that card assumes the greatest importance of all the board cards. Because of that it is often more difficult to draw to straights or flushes. That single top card will usually dictate the winning hand and it seems just as often ruins a promising draw as it makes it. Additionally, the way that the board cards are revealed means that nearly no hand is made or safe from counterfeiting until all 6 cards are revealed.
In Pyramid 1-2-3 Poker all hands must include the single top card of the pyramid so that card assumes the greatest importance of all the board cards. Because of that it is often more difficult to draw to straights or flushes. That single top card will usually dictate the winning hand and it seems just as often ruins a promising draw as it makes it. Additionally, the way that the board cards are revealed means that nearly no hand is made or safe from counterfeiting until all 6 cards are revealed.
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 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♦). Were you to then flop a set you now have a good draw to a full house or better. That requires that an eligible pair appear on the board. (An eligible or qualifying pair is one in which the 2 paired cards appear in different rows.) But be careful when that pair is of a rank higher than your trips. You will be dealt any 2 pair about 3% of the time and any one pair about 30%. Without additional coordination single pairs alone (even aces) are not very 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. 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, which you will hit about 37% of the time. But your hand could still be ruined if one of your 2 hole cards appear on the board-especially the single top card). Unfortunately, when you have only 2 low cards in your hand there is about a 63% probability that one of them will appear among the 6 board cards. That does not always mean it counterfeits your low as there are other cards that could come to save it. But it does mean there is a high probability your low is dead. 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 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 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♦). Were you to then flop a set you now have a good draw to a full house or better. That requires that an eligible pair appear on the board. (An eligible or qualifying pair is one in which the 2 paired cards appear in different rows.) But be careful when that pair is of a rank higher than your trips. You will be dealt any 2 pair about 3% of the time and any one pair about 30%. Without additional coordination single pairs alone (even aces) are not very 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. 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, which you will hit about 37% of the time. But your hand could still be ruined if one of your 2 hole cards appear on the board-especially the single top card). Unfortunately, when you have only 2 low cards in your hand there is about a 63% probability that one of them will appear among the 6 board cards. That does not always mean it counterfeits your low as there are other cards that could come to save it. But it does mean there is a high probability your low is dead. 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.