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.

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