Pass and Out Poker and More

In a "pass and out" game, you must open on any two pair in any position. Your hand figures to be the best around the table and you cannot afford to toss in the best hand. Just re­member to be oh, so careful in playing them afterward. Except in a wild game in which players raise on single pairs and four-flushes, no two pair lower than kings up can stand a raise.

Why do I establish queens up as the minimum for two "high" pairs? Because in most games I have observed players opening on jacks and staying on queens. If one of these hands draws a second pair, you will want to have a chance.

I will summarize the play of two pair in the average draw game. In a "pass and out" game, open. Next to the opener, raise. Separated by more than one active player from the opener, never raise and consider (depending on the game) whether or not you should drop. Do not stand a raise in any case in which three players are in the pot ahead of you, and do not stand a raise on less than jacks up unless the raise was made by the player next to the opener.

Play of three of a kind. In a game of draw poker, any three of a kind figure to be best before the draw four times out of five. The advantage of three of a kind is that they will usually win without improvement and if improved they may win a big pot. The disadvantage of three of a kind is that the odds are at best (with a two-card draw) about 81/2 to 1 against improving, and since three of a kind can be played strongly before the draw, the loss is heavy whenever another player draws out on you. A low three of a kind are not worth betting (after the draw) against more than two three-card draws or against more than one one-card draw.

For this reason, a low three of a kind (lower than tens) should be played before the draw about the same as two high pairs. Raise fast, drive out other players, limit the number of other players who will draw against you.

I have discussed the draw to three of a kind elsewhere; but to repeat, a hand that is opened on a low three of a kind and has not been raised should usually draw one card and bet. He will get calls from two high pairs, and he is likely to get a call rather than a raise from a straight or flush that has filled, for
 

How to Play Winning Poker DRAWING

 

 

Draw one—do not split

two   pairs   unless   you

 know an opponent has

two higher pairs.

Draw one—split openers      Draw one—but do not
only   to   draw   to  a      split openers to draw to
straight flush.                          a straight or flush.

DEUCES WILD

Deuces wild—draw two to the A-A-2    Deuces wild—discard the six of hearts

unless there have been several raises,      and draw one card to the straight
in which case draw one to a royal         flush, flush or straight possibility,
flush.

POKER WITH THE BUG

 

The joker is the bug—draw three cards     The joker is the bug—draw two cards
to bug and ace.                                         to bug, ace, jack.

How to Play Winning Poker POKER WITH  THE  BUG

 

The joker is the bug—usually draw    The joker is the bug—usually draw
one to the two pair.                               two to the bug and pair.

 

Having opened, draw three.  If an-     Having opened, draw one. (In Blind
other player opened, draw one.           Opening, against one opponent, draw

three.)

OPENING

 

Open; the chance of a higher pair is     Pass, unless dealer or next to dealer;
reduced by the A-K holding.                      someone else should open.

fear he too has filled (a full house) and can raise back.

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