SOHE 3-1-1

Overview

SOHE 3-1-1 deals 5 individual cards to each player, who separates them 3-1-1 (cap cards) before the flop. The Omaha hand is the middle card plus the group of 3 (4 cards total). The two single cards form the Hold'em hand — and the middle card is common to both hands. The same 5 community cards are used for both halves: Hold'em (any 5 of 7) and Omaha (exactly 2 individual + 3 community).

Key Rules

Number of Players

2–8 players (5 cards × 8 players = 40 individual cards plus 5 community)

The Hand Structure (3-1-1)

• Group of 3: Three cards that form the Omaha group
• Middle card: One card shared by BOTH the Hold'em hand and the Omaha hand
• Single card: One card used only in the Hold'em hand
• PLO hand = Group of 3 + Middle (4 cards) → use exactly 2 of these + 3 community
• HE hand = Middle + Single (2 cards) → use any combination + community cards

The Deal & Flow

• Pre-Flop: Each player receives 5 face-down cards → Players set hands (3-1-1, cap cards) → Bet
• Flop: 3 community cards face up → Bet
• Turn: 1 community card → Bet
• River: 1 community card → Bet → Showdown

Split Pot — Two Independent Hands

• HOLD'EM HALF: Best 5-card hand using your 2 Hold'em cards (single + middle) + 5 community cards
• PLO HALF: Best 5-card hand using EXACTLY 2 of your 4 PLO cards (group + middle) + EXACTLY 3 of the 5 community cards
• Because the middle card is in both hands, it is evaluated independently for each half

Strategy Tips

• The middle card is your pivot — choose it carefully as it affects both hands
• A high card or connector as the middle card bridges value to both halves
• An ace as the middle card gives pair/trip potential in HE and board coverage in PLO
• The group of 3 should work as a cohesive PLO holding — suit and connectivity matter