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General Rules of Poker Kill Games

For play in Texas Holdem and Omaha 8/B.

We have another variation for Texas Hold'em and Omaha 8/b fans. If you want to spice up the game, try out our Kill or Half-Kill versions. Basically, the game stakes increase when someone wins two qualifying hands in a row. These are very popular games, but can be a bit confusing so let's take a look at how this all works.

To Kill or Not To Kill
To play it successfully, you need to understand what a 'kill' is and why it happens. The 'kill' is a two-step process. First, someone has to win a pot outright (they take all the money - no split pots or side pots). And the total amount of the pot (before rake is taken) must be equal to or greater than 5 times the big blind for the game. For example, in a 2/4 play chip game the big blind is 2 play chips so the pot would have to be at least 10 play chips (5 x 2 = 10) for it to qualify. If this happens, the winning player gets a button in front of his or her position. This is the 'partial kill' button (see picture). To receive a 'partial kill' button in Omaha 8/b, the player must scoop the pot (in other words win both the high and low hands). Some call it a 'half-kill' but that's just too confusing; we'll address that later.

Partial Kill

The 'partial kill' button signifies that if this player wins the next hand we might have a Kill game and the stakes will go up! But for that to happen the player must win the pot outright, and the amount must be at least 5 times the big blind, just like they did before to get the partial kill button. If this happens we have a Kill game and the stakes go up. So hang on!

Full Kill

Let's stick with the example from above. It's a 2/4 play chip game and you just won your second qualifying pot. The small blind posts 1 play chip, the big blind posts 2 play chips, and you - as the kill blind player - post 4 play chips. Because you already have 4 play chips posted, the minimum call amount is now 4 play chips. Even if you are the small blind or big blind, you still post 4 play chips and the other players must at least call 4 play chips to stay in. It's important to know that you act in turn, as in any other game (some cardrooms make the Kill blind the last to act). The rest of the hand plays as a 4/8 play chip game. This continues until the player with the Kill button does NOT win the entire qualifying pot. When the Kill game is not in effect, the stakes revert back to their regular levels. And, if no one has the partial kill button, it resides in the middle of the table.

Unused Kill Button

Half-kill Equals Little Kill?
We offer 'Half-Kill' games as well. They play exactly like Kill games, but the stakes don't increase a full amount; they increase a half amount instead. We know, it's so obvious! So a 2/4 play chip game plays as a 3/6 play chip game when the 'Kill' is active. And that's why we use the term 'partial kill' to describe the first step, instead of 'half-kill'. Some also use the phrase 'first leg' to refer to this. We offer a 'Half-Kill' game in Hold'em as well as Omaha 8/b.

Regardless of what you call it, these games add an additional level of fun and excitement to your favorite games. Try them out!

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