Omaha Poker - Passing the Nuts

  Passing the nuts sounds like the sort of game one would play at the type of parties that consider Pictionary the height of human enjoyment. Of course, taken in another context it could be the kind of game that one would participate in at a gala hosted by Ron Jeremy. Under those circumstances the game could have endless entertaining possibilities. In reality, the idea of "Passing the Nuts" is when a player in a hand of Pot Limit Omaha folds the best hand, and allows somebody else to win.  To most this sounds like the height of insanity. It is this sort of logic that inspired Ben Affleck to take the lead role in the movie Gigli, and put a torpedo hole in his own career. In Omaha though, there is a method to the madness. Let's say you have been dealt the following cards: ...  The flop produces: ...  On paper this looks good. As long as everyone is checking or calling, it is good. If there are a couple of people in the game who begin to raise and re-raise, you could be in trouble if you try to match them raise for raise.  With all the action that is going on, you are either facing a couple of aggressive players who are trying to bluff their way into the pot, or somebody is holding a 5/6/9/10 with the potential for a spade flush draw. At this point in the game you are staring at a situation where on paper you have the best hand at the moment, but with two cards left to go your opponent has the best chance to win the game. This is exactly the sort of thing you want to avoid. So if the action gets hot and heavy, start to think about folding your hand. Your nut may become a mere shell of itself by the time the last card drops.