Omaha
Poker Strategy
When
new players stumble across the game of
Omaha
, the most challenging aspect is trying to figure out
what hand you’re holding, not to mention what your
opponent has. It may seem obvious, but with the
maximum of dealing with nine cards instead of the
seven in Texas Hold’em, and the high-low variation
of the game,
Omaha
can take some time to figure out.
This
game, especially if you’re a rookie at Hi-Lo, is one
where you should let the dealer call your hand at the
time of the showdown. With so many combinations
available, you want to make sure you’re not mucking
when you should be playing.
With
five community cards in both Hold’em and
Omaha
, the differences may at first seem slight. But
there’s an entirely different strategy that must be
employed when making the switch. Because you can only
play two of the four cards, deception sets in right
away. If you are dealt four 10s, you really only have
a pair, and you have no chance to hit trips since you
have the other two 10s. If you start an
Omaha
hand with four suited cards, you really only have two,
and your potential flush is damaged by having those
other suited cards.
Since
you’re starting
Omaha
with four cards, which yield six combinations right
off the bat, you may think you’ll be playing more
hands. In fact, you should be more cautious. If you’re at a table with nine other players,
that’s 54 combinations you will be facing, making it
wise to tread carefully when choosing which hands to
play. Playing too many starting hands tends to be a
common mistake in
Omaha
.
Since
Omaha
can be played in a Hi-Lo version, it can make the
game more complex than Hold’em. With this in mind,
follow some simple rules. For instance, limit playing
high hands to when you’re holding cards 9 and
higher. Only play the low hands when you have A-2, A-3
or 2-3. Fold most hands that include a 6, 7 or 8. If
you’re holding these cards and waiting for the flop,
you’re going to find yourself in big trouble.
Limit
your play after the flop, but when you do hit a good
one, play aggressively. And since someone will likely
have the nuts after the flop, make sure you have
enough outs if you’re going to stick around. Bluff
infrequently in
Omaha
and play hands that can scoop the pot (win the entire
pot in a Hi-Low game). And finally, raising from late
position is dangerous in
Omaha
since more players will hang around to see the flop.
Other
Omaha Poker related articles:
Whether
You're Hi or Low, There's No Place Like Omaha
Complete Rules:
Omaha Poker Rules
Omaha Hi-Low Rules
Interested in playing Omaha Poker online?
ThePokerSource recommends Paradise
Poker.
For further reading on Omaha Poker - We recommend the
following Omaha Poker Books:
