Archive for May, 2009
Draw poker: anything opens is played the same as jacks or better except that any hand may open the betting, regardless of strength. For example, a pair of 7s could open betting in anything opens, or even a queen-high hand. Otherwise, the rules and methods of play are identical to jacks or better.
STRATEGY FOR ANYTHING OPENS
The strategies in draw poker: anything opens are virtually the same as in jacks or better. Though any cards can open the betting, don't be fooled into opening or calling bets with anything less than you would play in jackpots. Whether the game requires jacks or better or requires nothing to open betting doesn't change the fact that you'll be dealt just as many good and bad hands in one game as in the other. The same minimum starting hands apply here as in jacks or better.
DRAW POKER: LOWBALL
This interesting variation presents a different twist on poker. The lowest hand is the strongest in lowball, or loball as it is sometimes spelled, as opposed to the standard high poker game where the highest hand is the best. The ace is still the best card in lowball, but, unlike in high poker, where the ace counts as the highest card held, in this game the ace counts as the lowest card of a hand. The 2 is the next lowest card, and therefore the next best lowball card, and is followed in order by the 3, 4, 5,and so on, up to the king, which is the worst card in lowball.
In lowball, the highest card counts in determining the value of a hand: the lower the highest card, the better the hand. Hands are announced by their two highest cards. For example, the hand 7 6 4 2 A is announced as a "7 6" or "7-high," and 8 4 3 2 A is announced as an "8 4" or "8-high." Of the two above-mentioned hands, the "7 6" is the more powerful lowball hand, since its highest card, the 7, is lower than the 8, the high card of the "8 4" hand.
In instances where the highest values of two hands are equivalent, the next highest cards of the hands are matched up, and the lowest value of these matched cards determines the winner. Thus, the hand 8 6 4 3 2 is a stronger total than 8 7 3 2 A, and 9 6 5 2 A beats out the hand 9 6 5 4 A. When the competing hands are equivalent, such as the holdings 8 5 4 3 A versus 8 5 4 3 A, the hand is considered a tie and the pot is split.
The wheel or bicycle, 5 4 3 2 A, is the perfect lowball hand. It can never be beat. At best, it can be tied by another wheel. 6 4 3 2 A is the next strongest lowball total, followed in order by 6 5 3 2 A, 6542 A, 6543 A, and so on.
In lowball, straights and flushes are not relevant and do not count. The wheel, 5 4 3 2 A, is not considered a straight. It's a perfect "5 4." An 8 4 3 2 A, all of hearts is simply an "8 4" hand, not a flush as it would be in high poker.
Any five-card hand containing a pair is a weak hand and can be beat by any five unmatched cards. For example, K Q 7 6 5 is a winner over 2 2 3 4 5. Two pair, three-of-a-kind, full houses, and four-of-a-kind are increasingly worse holdings. The odds of these hands winning are very slim indeed.
The term smooth in lowball refers to a relatively good back four cards, such as the hand 9 5 4 3 A, a smooth nine. Rough suggests a relatively weak back four cards, such as the hand 9 7 6 5 2, a rough nine. Lowball is a draw poker variation. As such, it is played similarly to high draw poker, featuring two betting rounds, one before the draw and one after.
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Smaller two pair hands, such as 9s over 3s, are deceptive hands in draw poker. You must play them carefully. At first glance, a holding of two small pairs appears to be a strong hand with good winning possibilities. In reality, these cards spell trouble.
While a small two pair may stand tall before the draw, against three players trying to improve as well, that hand in fact becomes an underdog. If you're facing bets and raises before the draw and more bets after it, your small two pair (with 11-1 odds against improving) starts looking even smaller.
Fold two small pairs in early position if the pot is opened ahead of you, or if you're in late position and three or more players are in the pot. In last position, against just one or two players, raise, and try to force them out.
THE DRAW
When you're drawing to a pair, your best odds of improving is to take a three-card draw. Sometimes, however, holding a kicker, an extra card to a pair, can be a powerful bluffing tool. Players have to suspect your two-card draw for three-of-a-kind.
Occasionally, using the kicker in this fashion can really work to your advantage.
Drawing one card to a three-of-a-kind is a good bluffing strategy as well. Let's say you're playing a $5-$ 10 game. The first two players check and the third player opens betting with a $5 bet. The next player folds. You're in the next seat holding three 8s, and you raise the opener $5. Players fold in turn around the table. Only the opener calls your bet. He goes first and draws one card. You take one card as well.
After the draw, the opener bets $10, probably holding kings or aces up and figuring you for a lower two pair. You raise $10, banking on the 11-1 odds against his improving. He calls. Then he quietly folds his cards after you turn over your three 8s.
Fold four-flushes and four-straights if they don't improve at the draw.
The dealer has a decisive advantage in draw poker, since he acts last. With marginal hands, he can come in the pot cheaply. He can also fold if the action is too stiff. He's in a great position to bluff, and, being the last to draw, he can make use of his drawing strategy to gain a powerful edge. Due to the dealer's big positional advantage, draw poker is an excellent choice in dealer's choice games.
Play alertly and apply the winning strategies of poker to gain an advantage over your opponents and be a winner at draw poker.
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