Favorite game type? (1 Viewer)

There are four commonly played versions of 3 card hold'em. Each is progressively wilder, but all are great games:
  • Pineapple -- 3 cards, discard one on pre-flop action
  • Crazy Pineapple -- 3 cards, discard one after flop action
  • Lazy Pineapple -- 3 cards, no discards, can play 0, 1, or 2 hole cards at showdown (never all 3)
  • Super-Hold'em -- 3 cards, no discards, can play any combination of board cards and hole cards (including all 3)
Super-Hold'em can also be played hi/lo (split pot).
Definitely played Pneapple and crazy pineapple for years. Never heard of or played the versions of lazy pineapple or super hold’em. Interesting. Thanks @BGinGA
 
Not exactly sure what the “exact” definition of a “circus” game is but I get the jest of it. Years ago someone started playing a game “Big O” at a dealers choice tournament. A game somewhat like Omaha where you must play 2 cards in your hand but you get 5 cards! Way too many combinations and permutations imo. I haven’t played club poker in awhile but I’m told there’s actually hi/lo games of this offered in some CA card clubs. Crazy to me.
 
Those are interesting for sure. I may have to introduce a few to the players for more options.
Thanks
Definitely played Pneapple and crazy pineapple for years. Never heard of or played the versions of lazy pineapple or super hold’em. Interesting. Thanks @BGinGA
Complete list of circus games (including Pineapple variants) here...
Abby's Mixed Games
Hopefully the link doesn't break when it gets updated (and it seems to update a few times a year).
 
Not exactly sure what the “exact” definition of a “circus” game is but I get the jest of it. Years ago someone started playing a game “Big O” at a dealers choice tournament. A game somewhat like Omaha where you must play 2 cards in your hand but you get 5 cards! Way too many combinations and permutations imo. I haven’t played club poker in awhile but I’m told there’s actually hi/lo games of this offered in some CA card clubs. Crazy to me.
Big O is one of most tame and least volatile of the circus games. Craziest version of Omaha I played at SQM earlier this year was Maximum Omaha Hi/Lo -- the number of hole cards was determined by the number of players at the table. Five-handed, each player received 8 cards, retained for the duration of the hand. Non-nut flushes and lesser made hands were pretty much worthless, and players who didn't grasp that made it pretty profitable. :D

Super-Hold'em is a similar evil, hidden holdings game. Possible to have flushes with only two suited board cards, and full-houses and quads are both possible with no paired board. Nut flushes are often losers. Two-pair, sets, trips, and even nut straights are rarely good.
 
Big O is one of most tame and least volatile of the circus games. Craziest version of Omaha I played at SQM earlier this year was Maximum Omaha Hi/Lo -- the number of hole cards was determined by the number of players at the table. Five-handed, each player received 8 cards, retained for the duration of the hand. Non-nut flushes and lesser made hands were pretty much worthless, and players who didn't grasp that made it pretty profitable. :D

Super-Hold'em is a similar evil, hidden holdings game. Possible to have flushes with only two suited board cards, and full-houses and quads are both possible with no paired board. Nut flushes are often losers. Two-pair, sets, trips, and even nut straights are rarely good.

That was definitely an interesting experiment.
 
Big O is one of most tame and least volatile of the circus games. Craziest version of Omaha I played at SQM earlier this year was Maximum Omaha Hi/Lo -- the number of hole cards was determined by the number of players at the table. Five-handed, each player received 8 cards, retained for the duration of the hand. Non-nut flushes and lesser made hands were pretty much worthless, and players who didn't grasp that made it pretty profitable. :D

Super-Hold'em is a similar evil, hidden holdings game. Possible to have flushes with only two suited board cards, and full-houses and quads are both possible with no paired board. Nut flushes are often losers. Two-pair, sets, trips, and even nut straights are rarely good.
...and just like that, I challenged Mrs Zombie to a heads-up duel of Maximum Omaha. :eek:
 
Super-Hold'em is a similar evil, hidden holdings game. Possible to have flushes with only two suited board cards, and full-houses and quads are both possible with no paired board. Nut flushes are often losers. Two-pair, sets, trips, and even nut straights are rarely good.
I have introduced with fair success a variant to my home game, in which you discard the 3d hole card upon seeing the flop, with the remaining 2 hole cards being mandatory. Could call it Tight Pineapple in American terms.

In search of some variety but NOT volatility, I 've also come up with a variant with 3max, 2min useable hole cards (no discard) and a frugal board of 1 + 1 + 1 twin (2, not both useable) cards. You can't have all hands made till the Turn.
You can still make quads and boats without a pair on the board, or a flush with just 2 suited cards on the board, but all these are less probable due to the fewer useable board cards (3 out of 4). Pot Limit.
Thoughts?
 
I have introduced with fair success a variant to my home game, in which you discard the 3d hole card upon seeing the flop, with the remaining 2 hole cards being mandatory. Could call it Tight Pineapple in American terms.
In American terms, that game is called "Crazy Pineapple", and is my favorite of all the Hold'em variants.

In search of some variety but NOT volatility, I 've also come up with a variant with 3max, 2min useable hole cards (no discard) and a frugal board of 1 + 1 + 1 twin (2, not both useable) cards. You can't have all hands made till the Turn.
You can still make quads and boats without a pair on the board, or a flush with just 2 suited cards on the board, but all these are less probable due to the fewer useable board cards (3 out of 4). Pot Limit.
Thoughts?
I'm not quite grasping what you are describing. 3 hole cards, with a 1 card flop, one card turn, and 2 rivers, but can only used one of the rivers (like a reverse 3-2-1)?

If that is what it is, I don't think I would care much for it. Cincinnati is pretty low variance (4 hole cards and 1 community card to start, 1 card flop, 1 card turn, 1 card river), but at least you know what you are drawing to.
 
In American terms, that game is called "Crazy Pineapple", and is my favorite of all the Hold'em variants.
Nope. Crazy Pineapple allows 0, 1, or 2 hole cards to be used. His described variation requires that both remaining hole cards must be used (basically three-card Omaha with a discard).
 
Nope. Crazy Pineapple allows 0, 1, or 2 hole cards to be used. His described variation requires that both remaining hole cards must be used (basically three-card Omaha with a discard).
Not quite, as I don't think Crazy Pineapple requires you to use both hole cards.
Good point - I missed the "mandatory" descriptor. So it would be Crazy Pineapple with less action. Call it Mouldy Pineapple.
 
I'm not quite grasping what you are describing. 3 hole cards, with a 1 card flop, one card turn, and 2 rivers, but can only used one of the rivers (like a reverse 3-2-1)?
YES
If that is what it is, I don't think I would care much for it. Cincinnati is pretty low variance (4 hole cards and 1 community card to start, 1 card flop, 1 card turn, 1 card river), but at least you know what you are drawing to.
Yes, you got it right.
I thought about something less volatile than Super Hold'em, with a self-imposed rule of max3 / min2 hole cards to use.
How many hole cards are useable in Cincinnati?
 
Yes, you got it right.
I thought about something less volatile than Super Hold'em, with a self-imposed rule of max3 / min2 hole cards to use.
How many hole cards are useable in Cincinnati?
1-4. We played it in a hi-low (8 qualifier) format this past weekend. I heard a number of people complain that there just wasn't enough action. Compared to other circus games, they're right. I like less volatility and more time with my bankroll, so I'm OK with Cincinnati or Cincinnati 8.
 
We only play NLHE at our home games. Even trying a slight change such as limit is met with resistance. I'd like to try and introduce Omaha but I can't see it happening.
 
in b4 out of context thread:

I absolutely love Scrotum, I can't get enough of it!

It was a game I was first introduced to a few years back during the Shootout at the Post meetup. I lost $900 that trip. I finally grasp that you don't want to be playing with anything less than 3 cards kept in your hand, because it puts you at such a disadvantage. Don't get married to those nut flushes in this game.
 
I've always preferred the home crowd vs a casino. You never know who you'll get seated with. As for game type most people from NLHE cash games. I like running the occasional tourney to mix things up though.
 

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