The Ins and Outs of Irish Poker

There are a million different variants of poker. One of the great things about the game is that you can play it your own way and virtually never get it “wrong.” There is one variant – Irish poker – that will perhaps change the way  you look at poker in general. 

We have all heard of the more popular versions of poker. Texas Hold ‘Em is perhaps the best known. Omaha introduces a new level of chaos that no other version can touch. But what in the world is Irish poker?

If you are a fan of both Omaha and Hold ‘Em but want to reduce the number of swings, Irish Poker is the way to go. It’s a little different than what you might think it is and there’s also a slight twist that other poker games don’t have: drinking. Let’s learn how to play poker like never before.

What is Irish Poker?

Unlike other, more traditional poker games, Irish Poker is a bit of a hodgepodge. It is basically a mix of Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha. Each player starts out with four cards in the hole, exactly as if they were playing Omaha.

The difference is that two of those cards must be discarded after the flop. From there, the rest of the hand plays out exactly like a standard hand of Texas Hold ‘Em. Irish Poker is quite popular both in person and even at some online casinos, though it can be a bit tough to find at times. That said, Irish Poker tournaments can be quite the experience if you can find one.

There is also a version of the game that is a drinking game. Each player gets four cards face-down. The first player to act guesses the color of their card. If they are correct, they pick two people to take a shot/sip. If they are wrong, they take those shots/sips themselves. The action moves around the table until everyone has had a turn.

Irish Poker Drinking Game

There are a few reasons that Irish Poker is such a favorite. For starters, it can be played anywhere and at any time. There isn’t much needed in terms of preparation other than a deck of cards and either money or chips. Even better, you can learn to play it in a matter of minutes.

The structure is a bit different than the traditional version, but just as fun. You can gather up to 13 people to play the drinking game version as each player gets four cards dealt face-down. The dealer, who is randomly assigned and can also play, deals out the cards and the players do not look.

How an Average Hand of the Irish Poker Drinking Game Plays Out

Because the structure and action of the drinking game are so different from the traditional game, it helps to know how things play out. Let’s look at the average hand of the Irish Poker drinking game to know what to expect.

Round 1 – Red or Black

When everyone has been dealt four face-down cards, the action moves to the first person to the left of the dealer. They guess whether their first card is red or black. After making the call, they flip the card over to see the results. If correct, they get to pick any two players from around the table to take a shot or sip. If they are wrong, they have to take those two shots or sips themselves. The action moves around the table until everyone has had a go.

Round 2 – Higher or Lower

In the second round of the game, the action begins to the dealer’s right. They need to guess whether this card is higher or lower in value than the card they flipped over in the first round. The twist here is that the number of players/shots doubles.

If you pick correctly, four players take a shot/sip. Get it wrong and those are your drinks. If you get the same card as the first round, that’s an automatic drink. Everyone goes around the table and takes a turn.

Round 3 – Inside or Outside

In round three, it is time to choose whether the value of the third card will be inside the value of your first two cards or outside. Since it’s a new round, get two more drinks ready to potentially consume or hand out. The stakes are higher here, with six shots on the line depending on the choice.

Round 4 – Which Suit?

Everyone will be feeling it by this point and the final round means having to guess the right suit. Think long and hard about all the cards that have been flipped up and make your choice a strategic one. Guess right and eight players have to drink. Guess wrong and they’re all yours.

The Rules of Irish Poker (Traditional)

Before you can begin playing Irish Poker in earnest, you need to know how the rules of the game work. Think to the standard rules of a hand of Omaha when it comes to the pre-flop action. Beginning with the two players to the left of the dealer are the blinds.

From there, the first player after the big blind begins the action. They either fold, call, or raise the stakes. The action continues around the table until the last person acts and the round has concluded.

From there, the flop is dealt and it is the same three-card community that you would find in a hand of Texas Hold ‘Em or Omaha. One card is burned face-down then the three community cards are dealt face-up.

The player closest to the left of the button is the first to act. Players place their bet or check depending on the situation until all remaining players have acted. When the betting has finished, each remaining player must discard two of their hole cards. When that has happened, the rest of the game is played with Texas Hold ‘Em rules through the turn and river.

Strategy for Traditional Irish Poker

Remember that you are beginning the game under Omaha rules. Having said that, you’re looking to play with a strategy that would be good for Omaha. Look for hands that have a ton of possibilities to them, not just pairs.

Double big pairs are a good thing – AAKK, KKQQ, etc. – but not the only hand to seek. Double suited – two sets of cards in the same suit – and wraps – KGJT, JT98, etc. – provide opportunities for straights and flushes.

The Best Starting Hands in Traditional Irish Poker

Whether you have played already or plan to in the near future, it helps to know what hands to look out for in Irish Poker. Every hand has the potential for something but going into the situation with a strategy will help you win more often than not.

As mentioned, double big pairs are good because it provides ample opportunity to spike a set on the flop. Suited connectors are great for flush and straight possibilities, though unsuited connectors are equally as opportunistic.

The simplest answer is that the hand with the most possibilities is the best one. Pairs can be outdrawn on the flop, so having suited connectors provides more potential from the flop through the river. Just make sure that you strategize properly after the flop and don’t discard something that would have helped you later on.

What Two Cards to Discard

Knowing how to get started in a game of Irish Poker is important, but what you do next is equally so. After the flop, you will have an opportunity to formulate the best possible scenarios in your mind. This is critical because it is now time to discard two of your hole cards.

Flop action will be a big determining factor in what to do next. If you have a top pair and the flop is not favorable, you may be up against a draw or even a set. Top pair in Irish Poker tends to be weaker, especially if there are potential draws on the board.

If you are looking to draw and it fails to hit on the flop, stick with your pairs and hold onto a good kicker. Should there be a draw on the flop, keep away from sucker straight draws or low draws unless it’s either free or cheap. There are good odds that someone has a better draw going into the flop and the position is undesirable.

There aren’t many choices out there in the way of Irish Poker strategy guides. That said, you can check out Omaha, Texas Hold ‘Em, and Omaha Hi-Lo Poker strategy guides. It will help you to hone your game accordingly.

A Variation of the Classics

One of the best aspects of Irish Poker is that you can tweak it to make it even more fun. It is a great way to stir the action up without having to suffer the extreme swings that come along with a game of Omaha while also having slightly larger swings than you would find in a traditional game of Texas Hold ‘Em.

There are plenty of places online where you can play Irish Poker. Even better, you can find both pot-limit and no-limit formats as well as cash games and tournaments alike. If you have never played Irish Poker before, doing so online can be a great way to learn and to do so quickly.

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