+13 @ Chez Johnson

Today we played HORSE. HORSE isn't a game but is a combination of games. H is for Hold'em, O is for Omaha, R is for Razz, S is for Stud and E is for Eight or better (Omaha).

Omaha is like Hold'em except everyone has four cards instead of two. You have to use exactly two cards from your hand in combination with three from the board to make your hand. None of us was clear on what a good starting Omaha hand is. One of my starting hands was Q,J,J,J which isn't as good of a hand as it appears. Because you have to use exactly two cards, the third J in my hand hurt since there was only one jack left that could appear on the board.

S is seven card stud (everyone gets 2 cards down, 4 cards up, then one card down), and Razz is seven card stud low ball. Eights or better is Omaha high-low split, and if the low hand is higher than an eight, there is no low and only a high.

I had never played Omaha before and I find myself very intrigued by the game. I could foresee myself playing it at the Commerce Club someday. I'm not fond of stud or Razz. Too many betting rounds, the hands take too long to develop, and there are too many cards to watch.