When playing Ohama poker, strategizing is just as important as knowing how and when to bluff. Unlike other poker variants, Ohama immediately places four hole cards at your disposal, allowing every player greater possibilities to win.

Think in Three’s
When playing Ohama, it’s important to keep in mind the three best possible hands you can form with your cards. Don’t just stick with one alternative and forget all other combinations. The turn of the tide in Ohama is unpredictable, and each time a card is revealed on the board can drastically affect your hand.

By thinking in three’s, you can be more flexible in responding to any move your opponents make on the table.

Ohama is Not Texas Hold’em
Many players end up making costly mistakes simply because they assume that what’s good in Texas Hold’em would be just as great in Ohama. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. A high pair may be enough in Texas Hold’em, but it’s certainly inadequate in Ohama. If you want to win, you should settle for at least a two pair by the time the flop’s revealed.

The Right Time to Raise
Raises are always critical points in the game. Whenever a player raises the bet, his opponents would wonder whether the player’s hand is as good as the action implies or it’s all just part of a bluff.

In terms of practicality, however, the worst time to raise the bet is prior to the flop. In fact, experts would only consider pre-flop raises a good move if your hole cards have Aces or Kings, giving you the power to cut down opposition.

The best time to raise the bet, on the other hand, is when you’re not in the position to post the blinds. In these instances, you should be assertive when you have a strong hand backing you up. You should also use raises to provoke those who are however in the position to post the blinds.

A Straight May Not Be Enough
Again, in other poker variants, getting a straight may mean hitting the jackpot, but it’s certainly not so in Ohama. If a straight is all you have up your sleeve and you weren’t able to get a rainbow – cards of different suits – by the flop, you might as well fold your hand or you’ll be taking quite a risk. But if you do get the right flop for your hand, use assertion and bluffing on the table by betting or raising the bet to discourage players from pursuing a flush.

Low Means Low
Low hands may create miracles in other poker variants, but they aren’t as potent when it comes to Ohama. Avoid overestimating the value of low pairs. If you’ve got a low pair, strategize with the assumption that it’s exactly as it is and nothing more than that.

Let Them Catch You On Purpose
Finally, act sneaky. It helps in any variant of poker, and Ohama’s no exception. Let them catch you bluffing once in a while to make your game less predictable. But of course, make sure that getting deliberately caught doesn’t reveal any critical aspect of your style of play.

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If singles, doubles, cuckoo, and bombs are the only Greek poker variants you know and you’d like to expand your knowledge and experience, here are more poka variations to enjoy – some of which you might even have the opportunity to play online.

Bombs with a Hat
If you’re familiar with the rules for playing bombs then learning this particular poka variant won’t be a hardship. The only difference between bombs and this game is the presence of one or two wildcards, also referred to as hats.

There are three acceptable hand combinations for bombs with a hat. The first combination would make use of 2 of the player’s cards, one wildcard, and two from a bomb. The second combination would make use of 2 of your cards and the rest from the bomb. The last will make use of all three of your cards, one wildcard, and one from the bomb.

Whether tria-full (three-full) or kenda-chroma (straight-flush) is used will depend on the hand combination allowed and used by the player.

Asanser or Elevator
One card is dealt to each player at the start of the game, followed by two board cards and forming a row of its own. Players are dealt another card, followed by two more board cards. By this time, you’d have three rows and two columns on the table. Players get another card before two cards are once more added to the table, creating two columns with three cards each. A wildcard is finally added at the middle of the two rows.

Winning hands are composed of either two hand cards and three board cards or vice versa. Community cards used in a hand must belong to the same row. The wildcard may be used in combination with either row. Finally, elevator is judged according to kenda chroma due to the number of cards available for play.

Pyramida or Pyramid
The game begins with players getting three cards each. On the table, a pyramid of cards are laid down – one card on top, two cards on the second and continuing on with the bottom row containing four cards.

A winning hand must be composed of at least two hand cards and two or more community cards. Players however can only use one card from each pyramid row. Community cards are revealed row per row, starting from the bottom.

Nekrotafeio or Cemetery
Players are dealt three to five cards each, depending on the number of persons playing at the table. Next, two rows of 5 face down cards are dealt on the table.

One card from each row is first revealed. The card with the higher value is considered the good row. The other row will then be considered the bad row and all cards held by the player that match those in the bad row would have to be discarded.

To make things more exciting, the deciding factor on which row is good or bad can depend on the last rather than the first card revealed. Cemetery is always played according to kenda chroma.

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In the world of poker, there’s almost no end to what you have to learn and master in order to be consistently on the top of your game. This is especially true with poka or Greek poker, when new poker variations seem to crop up everyday.

Basics of Greek Poker

Greek poker or poka is actively played in Greece but is slowly finding its way to other parts of the world. Three hand orders are used in poka, and you have to familiarize yourself with each and every one of them before you can proceed to learning the different poker variants that make up poka.

Types of Greek Poker

Monos or Singles
A tria-full or three full is often used for this type of poka. The dealer deals each player one card and betting commences as the dealer reveals a community card. When three community cards have been dealt, players are dealt another card. Afterwards, betting resume as two more cards are added to the poker table separately. Singles is the only game where players favor the tria-full hand order.

Diplos or Double
This poker variant adheres to the same rules used in Monos except that this time, once the third community card has been revealed, the dealer deals players with two and not just one more cards. This will bring up the total number of cards available to players to eight. Players are required to use at least two of his own cards to form his own hand.

Diplo Tampo or Double Tableau
In this game, two rather than just one set of community cards are used. Players have to decide then which set they’d prefer to use in combination with his own cards. He must use at least two of his own cards. Furthermore, players are prohibited from combining cards from different sets of community cards.

Mpompes or Bombs
This is one of the most popular variants of Greek poker. Players are dealt one card each before the dealer lays out a bomb. A bomb is made up of three cards - although it could be more, depending on the rules of the game – revealed to the players concurrently. The dealer then proceeds to dealing each player another card before laying out another bomb.

When the third bomb has been laid out, it’s up to the dealer or management rules if two triple or quadruple bombs would follow. Betting takes place between explosions. Bombs explode one by one and players must form a hand by combining at least two of his own cards with one of the bombs on the table.

Mpompes Me Kapelo or Bombs with a Hat
This game is like playing bombs with a twist. Bombs are still made up of three or four cards. A kapelo or hat, on the other hand, may be one or two wildcards dealt on the table. A winning hand is composed of at least two of the player’s cards combined with cards from one bomb and, if he so chooses, one of the wildcards.

It will take a bit of time to look for websites offering Greek poker games online, but at the meantime, you can divert yourself by playing it with your friends. Good luck!

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If you’re looking for a bit of harmless fun at the poker tables then what you need to play is a game or two of Anaconda poker. This fun poker variant actually allows players to pass cards with each other, creating wild opportunities that can get you doubled up in laughter…and maybe triple your profits at the same time!

What is Anaconda Poker?
This game is also known as Pass the Trash Poker. Often played informally, it does however occasionally find its way in professional poker tables, both online and in the real world. Eight to nine players can take part in Anaconda poker, depending on the inclusion of Jokers as wild cards.

Anaconda can be further divided into several variants such as 3-2-1 Anaconda or “Screw Your Neighbor”.

How to Play Anaconda Poker
A simple version of Anaconda poker starts with players given six cards each. Players choose which three cards they wish to pass off and place them face down on the table. Only when all players have readied cards to be passed on the table can they pick out the cards separated for them.

For the second round, players will choose two cards to pass off. For the third round, players will choose one card to pass off. And for the final round, players will simply have to choose which one last card to discard in order to form the best possible five-card hand.

If eight players are at the table, forty-eight cards will be immediately at play and with four cards discarded from play. Including wild cards can add another player at the table. In other Anaconda poker variants, players are dealt seven cards each.

Betting in Anaconda Poker
Betting rules often follow those used in standard poker games. Blinds may or may not be used and limits may or may not be placed on the pot. Betting will commence prior to each round. Once a player opts out of the game by folding, his cards will be immediately excluded from the succeeding round of card passing.

In some cases, more betting rounds are added by revealing the players’ final hand card by card. Players start by exposing their top card and betting accordingly. This cycle continues until the last card is revealed. Card arrangement in this case is expectedly vital when bluffing against your opponents.

Variants in Anaconda Poker
While you’re certainly allowed to make up your own rules in Anaconda poker, the following are the most commonly used variations in public poker tables.

High or Low
Similar to other hi-lo poker variants, Anaconda poker players with the lowest and highest hands both stand to win the pot. If you’re lucky, a straight or flush can even give you both the lowest and highest hand.

Passing
Instead of the usual 3-2-1 passing combination, some Anaconda poker tables require players to use a 3-1-2 or 1-2-3 passing cycle instead.

Merry Christmas
Finally, this variation provides a consolation prize to players who pass the winning cards to the person sitting next to them. If the person you passed cards to ends up with the winning hand, you automatically win half the pot.

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