Slam-aha Rules

Slam-aha is listed on pagat.com as a variant of Oh Shit, an Omaha variation contributed there by Britt Martin. It is played exactly like Oh Shit except for the shape of the board. A standard 52-card deck is used, so up to eight players can take part.

The pot is split between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand.

For low, aces are low and straights and flushes do not count against a hand, so A-2-3-4-5 is the best low. A low hand must be eight-high or better to qualify. See hand rankings.

Groups may agree before play to make the centre card of the cross wild. Otherwise there are no wild cards.

Each player antes, or blinds are posted, as agreed. The dealer deals five cards face down to each player.

The dealer lays nine community cards face down in a cross: a horizontal row of five and a vertical column of five, which cross at a single shared centre card.

There are six betting rounds. After each of the first four, the dealer turns up one card from the row and one from the column, never the centre.

After the fifth betting round, the centre card is turned up, and the sixth and final betting round follows.

Each hand must use exactly two cards from the player's own five and exactly three community cards, all from the same line (the row or the column). The centre card belongs to both lines.

A player may use different cards, and a different line, for high and for low.

If no hand qualifies for low, the usual practice is that the best high hand takes the whole pot.

The source does not call for a declaration, so the usual practice is that the cards speak. If the centre card is played wild, the dealer shall announce before the deal whether it may count as an ace for low and where five of a kind ranks.