Tag Archives: hand
How to Play Omaha High Poker
Omaha High Poker is very similar to Texas Hold’em Poker, but instead of two hole cards in Texas Hold’Em, Omaha High has four hole cards. It is also known by several names, as Omaha Hold’em or simply Omaha, although Omaha can refer to several other poker variants as well depending on the locality. But to avoid ambiguity, the name Omaha High is generally preferred when only high hands are used.
In Omaha High, each player is dealt with four hole cards and must make his best hand using exactly two of his Hole cards, and exactly three of the five community cards to make a 5-card poker hand. The betting pattern (blinds, ante) and layout of the community cards (fourth street, river) is similar to Texas hold ’em.
Here’s a game example on how to play Omaha High:
- The game starts with the blind bets posted by two players to the left of the dealer, the small blind and the big blind.
- All players are dealt with four face-down cards, also known as hole cards or pocket cards. The player directly at the left side of the dealer puts out the small blind. He can call the bet, raise the bet, or fold. while the second to the dealer’s left puts out the big blind. Then the betting continues around each player in the table, clockwise.
- After the betting round is completed, three face-up cards, known as the flop, are dealt in the center of the table or board. These cards are referred to as the community cards. Players can use these cards in combination with their hole cards to make the best hand.
- After the flop, a second betting round begins, typically with the player to the dealer’s left, who can choose to check or bet.
- A fourth face-up card is added to the community cards, also known as the fourth street or the turn card.
- Another betting round begins after the turn, again with the player to the dealer’s left, who can choose to check or bet.
- A fifth face-up card is added to the community cards, known as the river. At this point, all players must use three community cards in combination of two of their hole cards to make the best hand.
- A final betting round begins, again with the player to the dealer’s left. After the betting round, a showdown begins where players will compare their hands to determine the winning hand. Five card hands are created by using exactly two cards of the player’s hand, and exactly three cards from the community cards. To qualify for winning a pot, all four of a player’s cards must be shown. If only two cards are shown and the other two are discarded, your hand is dead and you lose claim to the pot.
Winning Hands in Omaha High are fundamentally similar with most Poker, except with Hi-Lo variations of the game. The best hole cards in Omaha High Poker is Ace-Ace-King-Queen double-suited.
So do you want try and play poker online? Play Omaha High here with us at Blindhit.com.
Playing Blackjack – Don't Be Deceived by its Seeming Simplicity
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games in the world, simply because it seems so simple. After all, what could be easier than hitting twenty-one on a hand of the game? However, this seeming simplicity is deceptive, and has led to many a player losing their shirt at the blackjack tables.
In blackjack, players are initially dealt two cards. If one player’s cards add up to twenty-one or a value close to twenty-one such nineteen or twenty, then he wins. If not then the players may ask for additional cards until a player reaches twenty-one or close to it or exceeds twenty-one (in which case the player is ‘busted’ and is out of the round).
In casino play, the players play against the dealer. They first place their bets in the betting box and then receive their first two cards. A player wins if he gets a higher total than the dealer but without exceeding twenty-one. The king, queen and jack cards are worth ten; the ace may be either one or eleven, depending on the player’s choice. A player may ask to receive additional cards or stay with his hand; then, the dealer plays his hand. If a player busts, he is out; if the dealer busts, he loses to the players still in the game. If no one busts, then the winner is the player with the highest card count. If a player’s card count ties with that of the dealer, his hand is considered a ‘push’ and his bet is returned.
There are four moves a player can make in a round: he can ask to be hit, meaning be dealt another card; stand or stay, meaning he will take no more cards and stay with his hand; double-down, in which a player, after receiving his first two cards, can double his initial bet but can receive only one more card from the dealer; and split a pair, in which a player with two cards of the same value can split them into two separate bets. The dealer then deals two more cards to make two hands. Some casinos may also allow a player to surrender, in which a player may give up half his bet and not play his hand.
The basic strategy for playing blackjack is a bit complicated, since the player decides his next move based on his current hand, the dealer’s face up card (during play, one of the dealer’s two cards is face up). For example, if you have a hand of 16 and the dealer’s face up card is between 2 to 6, then you should stand. If the dealer’s face card is higher, then you should hit or surrender, if the casino offers that option. You can download such strategy tables online and study them carefully before you play. They do not guarantee 100% success but they will certainly help improve your odds of winning.