What are Bomb Pots in Poker with Example

What are Bomb Pots in Poker

If you have been regularly tuning in to streamed live poker on many of the best online casinos in Malaysia, you might be wondering about what are bomb pots in poker.

It is becoming increasingly popular in poker nowadays and it is easy to see why. Bomb pots will inject a fun and lively atmosphere into live cash games, making them more interesting for poker players. 

They also offer a winning chance for a big profit of money quickly, adding a thrill to the game. While the term “bomb pot” might sound familiar, however, it is still uncommon for some players. So, in this article, we will explain it to help you understand more about poker.

Understanding What are Bomb Pots in Poker

Bomb Pot in Poker Meaning
Bomb Pot in Poker Meaning

Before we jump into the specifics, let’s first figure out what are bomb pots in poker. It is a unique poker variation in which the preflop betting round is skipped entirely. Instead, all players will deal their hole cards and need to contribute a predetermined chips number to the pot before the cards are even revealed. 

Commonly, this amount is set at around 4x or 5x the size of the big blind and makes a sizable pot before the action even starts. For example, in a $1/$2 game with 6 players, all would make an ante of $10, resulting in a pot of at least $60.

Both Texas Holdem and Pot Limit Omaha are usually played in bomb pots. Once the antes are made, the flop will be revealed and the game continues as usual. 

About what are bomb pots in poker, it is an interesting twist on the classic game and offers players the opportunity to win big from the outset. Keep in mind that many bomb pot poker games will end up in a tie. Therefore, you can manage to win both boards, you are in for a significant payday.

How Does a Bomb Pot Work in Poker?

After knowing the definition of what are bomb pots in poker, you need to know how it works. It will work when each player places an extra ante into the pot before being dealt cards. In most games, then the flop is dealt (leaving no room for preflop). 

It means that not only is the pot bigger than normal, however, every single player at the table is still alive on the flop. The actions will continue normally from this point onwards (even though the action is anything but normal). 

Well, bomb pot can be played according to the following rules:

  • Players must make an ante. The pot size is normally several big blinds (4 – 15)
  • Cards will be dealt
  • The dealer shows the flop cards
  • The first player after the button to place a bet

Example of Playing Bomb Pot in Poker

As you already know what are bomb pots in poker, let’s take a closer look at an example of this poker betting variation. This situation will give hints as to how to approach the game. 

Playing at a $1/$3 No Limit Holdem

For example of what are bomb pots in poker, you can imagine you are at a $1/$3 No Limit Holdem cash game with a buy-in range of $200 – $1,000 at the Lodge. At each dealer change, a $500 cap bomb will be played with a $15 ante. 

Suppose you are holding the pot button if a new dealer comes. It means you will be on the button for the bomb pot hand regardless of your position in the previous standard hand. 

Make a Decisions

As per the casino’s tradition about what are bomb pots in poker, you can get to choose whether to play the bomb pot under NLHE or No Limit Omaha (PLO) rules. Let’s take an example: you choose PLO. In this game with 8 players, everyone will contribute $15, making the pot $120 before the dealer deals 4 hole cards to each player, same to a normal PLO hand. 

Put $15 in the Middle

As the game is 8-handed, all players need to put $15 in the middle and the dealer will deal 4 hole cards to every player, just like a normal PLO hand. You can get Ace of hearts, Ace of diamonds, 6 of clubs and 5 of clubs, which is not bad. However, it will need improvement if you mean to win a significant portion of the pot. 

The Dealer Time

Still with the similar example of what are bomb pots in poker, the dealer will put out two separate flops, the top and the bottom board. You will have a set of Aces on the top board and a middle pair with a flush draw on the bottom.

If you bet $120 and just the hijack calls, you have a great chance of winning both boards. The pot continues to grow to $360 as the dealer proceeds to the turn. 

You bet $360 with a full house on the top board and a flush on the bottom board which is totalling $495. Moreover, the hijack goes all-in for an extra $5, which you call. In addition, the dealer puts out two river cards. 

Your nerves will come alive as you show your Ace of hearts, Ace of diamonds, 6 of clubs and 5 of clubs, that beats the hijack 6 of hearts and 6 of diamonds. You will win both boards and scoop the pot! 

However, when the river on the bottom board were 8 hearts instead of 9 of hearts, the hijack will have won that board with a full house, outcoming in a chopped pot. We bet you can understand more what are bomb pots in poker.

Strategy Tips Bomb Pot in Poker

From the explanation of what are bomb pots in poker, we know it is commonly a multi-way pot with a high variance. With that being said, there are some strategies and tips to keep in your mind:

  • You can’t decide the range of your opponent’s hands on the flop. It is 100% random. After the turn, you can only predict the range according to the player’s reaction to bets and changes in  board structure
  • Avoid overestimating your hand’s strength. Keep in mind that opponents are likelier to hit a strong hand on a “free” flop
  • Don’t bet on a flop when you are out of position
  • The less coordinated the board cards are, the bigger the bet requires to be to “scare” players with medium-strength hands

Conclusion

As you know what are bomb pots in poker, it is a little bit straddle, except that the entire table places a straddle. The other main difference is that the action proceeds straight to the flop, which means that we will be playing a big family pot.