Recently, a friend of mine lent me a book entitled “New Poker Games” by Mike Caro. Since this book was originally published in 1984, the word new is now probably irrelevant. Nonetheless, most of the games in the book were new to me. A few of the games looked quite challenging, but I have yet to suggest any of these games to fellow players in any of the home games in which I play.
The game I found most intriguing was a game Mike Caro called Tic Tac Hold ’em. Like Hold ’em, it can be played with many participants. Mike Caro rates this game as complexity, “medium to great;” luck factor, “medium.”
In Tic Tac Hold ’em, each player is dealt two face-down cards as in Hold ’em. Then nine common cards are placed in the center of the table:
C D E A I B F G H Cards A and B are face-up; the others, face-down. There is an initial round of betting. Then, cards C D E are turned face-up. There is another round of betting. Then, cards F G H are turned face-up. There is another round of betting. Then, card I is turned face-up. There is a final round of betting. Players may use the two cards from their hand with any of the following combination of cards (Think of Tic Tac Toe.): Any three in a row, in a column, or diagonally. That’s it–like Hold ’em with many more variables.Every so often, one of our poker-playing group hosts an evening of $1-$2, No-Limit Hold ’em. He gets more than 25 players and manages a very professional three-table tournament. As losers drop out, they form a cash game. Other than that, Hold ’em gets little or no action in our home poker games. I have not (as yet)introduced Tic Tac Hold ’em. So, I decided to experiment with the Tic Tac Hold ’em concept and developed Tic Tac Dough, an Omaha hi-lo (with a little twist) version.
Tic Tac Dough
Process: Each player receives four cards, face-down. Then nine common cards are placed in the center of the table: C D E A I B F G H Cards A and B are face-up; the others, face-down. There is an initial round of betting. Then, cards C D E are turned face-up. There is another round of betting. Then, cards F G H are turned face-up. There is another round of betting. Then, card I is turned face-up. There is a final round of betting. Players must use only two cards (of their four) from their hand with any of the following combination of cards (Think of Tic Tac Toe.): Any three in a row, in a column, or diagonally. Best five-card, high-hand splits with best five-card, 8-or-better low-hand. Now, for the twist! Though two cards from player’s hand may and must be always used for the high hand, there is a possibility for player to use three cards from his/her hand for low. If there is no possible 8-or-better low-hand combination to be formed by using two cards in player’s hand and three cards on the table, then, player may use three cards in his/her hand and two cards in a row, in a column, or diagonally. Of course, if there are not two or three low cards in a row, column, or a diagonal; then, there is no low hand possible. Though the game gets plenty of action, it has not gained much popularity. GAME: TIC TAC DOUGH RANKING: Five ÅÅÅÅÅ
NOT JUST POKER 
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