PLAYING TIPS for TURNPIKE POKER
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HOW TO PLAY TURNPIKE POKER:
Turnpike Poker is a variation of Omaha. Each player is dealt 5 hole cards. Four sets of 3 cards per set are placed face down on the table. See diagram below. One entire set is revealed after each round of betting. Use exactly 2 hole cards plus one entire 3 card set to make the best hand. May be played high-low split. Other variations of Turnpike poker: 1. Reveal 4 cards (1 from each of the four 3 card sets) at a time. This reduces the number of betting rounds, but tends to keep more players in the hand. 2. Deal each player 4 hole cards instead of 5. Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4
A B C D A B C D A B C D |
SUMMARY of ACTION
Deal 5 hole cards to each player. Arrange board cards. Bet Reveal all 3 cards of 1st set. Bet Reveal all 3 cards of 2nd set. Bet Reveal all 3 cards of 3rd set. Bet Reveal all 3 cards of 4th set. Bet High only or Hi-Lo Cards Speak: Showdown High-Low Declaration: Declare Showdown |
PLAYING TIPS for TURNPIKE POKER
In Turnpike 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 it 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. An extremely important point to keep in mind is that in an 8 handed game with players dealt 5 hole cards (plus 12 common cards on the board) the entire deck of 52 cards will be in play. If a card is not on the board or in your hand somebody else has it.
In Turnpike 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 it 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. An extremely important point to keep in mind is that in an 8 handed game with players dealt 5 hole cards (plus 12 common cards on the board) the entire deck of 52 cards will be in play. If a card is not on the board or in your hand somebody else has it.
STARTING HAND SELECTION
In Omaha based games you want to have been dealt a hand that gives many possibilities for winning. Turnpike poker gives you 5 hole cards, so there are 10 couples of 2 cards available. The more these 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.
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♦ K♠ or A♣ A♦ K♣ K♦ 2♠) You will be dealt any 2 pair about 5% of the time and any one pair about 42%. Without additional coordination pairs alone (even aces) are not a good starting hand. 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.
Obviously, for low 2A is the best start. A protected low like 32A is significantly better. 3A or 32 gives you a one card draw to the nuts. Usually, anything less than these three 2-card low hands needs a lot of help from the board and stands little chance of winning without it. Again, the more coordinated low cards are with your other cards, the better.
In Omaha based games you want to have been dealt a hand that gives many possibilities for winning. Turnpike poker gives you 5 hole cards, so there are 10 couples of 2 cards available. The more these 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.
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♦ K♠ or A♣ A♦ K♣ K♦ 2♠) You will be dealt any 2 pair about 5% of the time and any one pair about 42%. Without additional coordination pairs alone (even aces) are not a good starting hand. 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.
Obviously, for low 2A is the best start. A protected low like 32A is significantly better. 3A or 32 gives you a one card draw to the nuts. Usually, anything less than these three 2-card low hands needs a lot of help from the board and stands little chance of winning without it. Again, the more coordinated low cards are with your other cards, the better.