Tips on Winning Poker's Most Popular Games
Omaha Poker, sometimes called Omaha High, is a variation of Texas Hold’em poker with a much wider range of hand possibilities that makes for a lot of excitement. As in Texas Hold’em, Omaha is a community card game with the object being to win the pot that players invest in by betting at various rounds. However, in Omaha there are 2 major differences: Each player receives four cards (hole cards) dealt face down and at the showdown each player must use exactly two of their four hole cards and combine them with exactly three boardcards. Learn how to play Omaha like the pros.
Texas Hold’em is by far the most popular and exciting form of poker available to players today. With the explosion and success of major televised tournament events, No Limit Texas Hold’em has become the player’s favorite type of poker. Texas Hold’em, also known simply as Hold'em, is a poker game in which each player receives two cards (hole cards) dealt face down, while five community cards are dealt face up on the table throughout four betting rounds. The object of the game is to win the pot that players invest in by betting during the various rounds. All players play their best five cards using any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards on the table. The best five-card poker hand among those in contention for the pot wins. Step-by-step instructions for playing Texas Hold'em
Omaha Hi-Lo (short for high & low) is a very entertaining game to play and can generate some truly sizeable pots because of the number of drawing possibilities. The same Omaha rules apply to Omaha Hi-Lo with the exception that the pot may be shared between a player holding the high (Hi) hand and a player holding the qualifying low (Lo) hand. A low hand must have a high card "8 or better" to qualify to be the low hand. That is, to be eligible to win the low, the highest card must be an 8 or lower. Upon a tie with the high card, the hand goes to the player with the next lowest high card. Any hand that is high card 9 or higher cannot qualify as a low hand. In Omaha Hi-Lo the same player can also win both pots for the Hi & Lo hand when there is no qualifying low hand. The straight ace to five is the best possible low hand with the straight four to eight being the worse possible qualifying low hand. The ace can be used as a high and low card in Omaha Hi-Lo. Straights and flushes are not considered when evaluating a low hand. Get play-by-play instructions right here.
7 Card Stud, sometimes referred to as just Stud, was quite likely the most well known and widely played variety of poker in the world until it was overtaken by Texas Hold’em. Stud is different from Texas Hold’em and Omaha in a several ways. Primarily, Stud is not a community card game. Each player is dealt seven cards throughout five betting rounds with the best five-card poker hand winning. 7 Card Stud is only played with a limit betting structure and therefore an ante must be posted by each player to ensure there is money in the pot. Occasionally, when there are a lot of players left until the river card is dealt there may not be enough cards left to give each player their own river card. In this situation the dealer will turn one card face-up to be used as a community card. Get the low down on how to play this game right.
7 Card Stud Hi-Lo is a poker game that combines the strategies and game play of 7 Card Stud and the possible split pot aspect of Omaha Hi-Lo. The same 7 Card Stud rules apply to 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo with the exception that the pot may be shared between a player holding the high (Hi) hand and a player holding the qualifying low (Lo) hand. A low hand must have a high card "8 or better" to qualify to be the low hand. That is, to be eligible to win the low, the highest card must be an 8 or lower. Upon a tie with the high card, the hand goes to the player with the next lowest high card. Any hand that is high card 9 or higher cannot qualify as a low hand. In 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo the same player can also win both pots for the Hi & Lo hand when there is no qualifying low hand. The straight ace to five is the best possible low hand with the straight four to eight being the worse possible qualifying low hand. The ace can be used as a high and low card in 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo. Straights and flushes are not considered when evaluating a low hand. Click here to learn the basics of 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo. |
