Tuesday, 19 March 2024

Poker Courchevel, an intriguing poker game

I had been looking for a poker game a little different from the ones traditionally played today – Texas Holdem or Omaha – for a long time. By chance I found Courchevel Poker and would like to introduce it to you. I found it intriguing, interesting, different from what I was used to before.

Poker Courchevel

 

History of Courchevel Poker

The exact origin of this variant of Omaha is not known, but we have indications that it originated around the 1980s or 1990s in the alpine resort of Courchevel in the board games played by tired skiers on their ski breaks. The game was quite popular in France, but it didn’t really come to the attention of the organizers of the big poker tournaments like the WSOP or WPT until now.

photo source: italianpokerclub.com

Courchevel Poker Ground Rules

First of all you should know that Courchevel Poker is derived from Omaha. Each player is dealt five cards of their own, face down. Five cards from the deck are placed during the game face up in the middle of the table. Each player must then use only two of their own five cards along with the fixed three cards on the table to make the best poker hand possible. What’s different about this poker game compared to 5 Card Omaha is that the first card on the flop is dealt face up at the beginning of the hand, before the preflop betting round begins.

The “dealer” button indicates which player is the dealer in the current game. Before the game starts, the player immediately to the left of the button posts the small blind, the first mandatory bet. The player immediately to the left of the small blind posts the big blind, which is usually twice the size of the small blind, but blinds can vary depending on the stakes and bet structure played.

Now, each player is dealt five personal cards and the first card of the flop is placed face up on the table. After all players have been dealt four cards in clockwise order, the first round of betting begins, starting with the first active player to the left of the player who paid the big blind.

photo source: pokerstars.fr

What happens on Pre-Flop

After checking their own cards and the first card on the flop, each player now has a chance to play their hand, either by calling a big blind or raising. The action starts to the left of the big blind. That player has the option to fold, call or raise. For example, if the big blind was $2, the call would cost $2 and the raise would cost at least $4. After that, the action would continue from left to right around the table.

What happens on Flop

After the first betting round is complete, the other two cards on the flop will be placed face up on the table. The cards on the table can now be used by any remaining player at the table to make up a winning poker hand. Play resumes again starting with the first active player to the left of the button. Another betting round begins.

What happens on the Turn

When this betting round is complete, the fourth community card will be placed on the table next to the flop. Play resumes with the first active player to the left of the button. Another betting round begins.

What happens on the River

When this betting round is complete, the fifth community card, the River, will be placed on the table next to the four previously placed. Play resumes again starting with the first active player to the left of the button. The last betting round takes place.

photo source: fullhousepoker.org

Showing cards

If there are more players left in the game at the end of the final betting round, the last person to bet or raise shows their cards, unless there was no bet in the final round, in which case the player to the left of the button shows their cards first. Obviously, the player with the best 5-card hand wins the pot. Before starting a new game, the button must be moved clockwise to the next player.

Conclusion

Courchevel Poker is an intriguing poker game, especially in its first part, on Pre-Flop, when the first card of the flop is placed face up on the table. After that, sure enough, it follows the direction of a regular poker game.

Sources: pokerstars.co.uk, 888poker.com





Author: Editor

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