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OMAHA POKER

WHERE TO PLAY

OMAHA POKER

OMAHA POKER STRATEGY

The immense popularity of Texas Hold ‘em has convinced many poker players to try an evening out with its tempting kid sister, Omaha poker. While most Omaha poker rules and their entire betting structure are inherited directly from Texas Hold ‘em, it’s the subtle differences that turn this game into a one-of-a-kind experience. These subtle differences also call for a complete revision of your Omaha strategy.

Omaha strategy is very different from Texas Hold ‘em Strategy, and the first key to online Omaha poker success is to understand and realize these differences. As you may recall, the main difference between Omaha and Texas Hold ‘em is the use of the hole cards – in Omaha each player is dealt 4 hole cards, and he or she must use exactly two hole cards and three community cards to make up their best five-card hand. This calls for a completely different Omaha poker strategy.

Omaha High Strategy - Starting Hands

Starting hand selection is a crucial part of online Omaha poker strategy, especially because when it’s time for the showdown you must use exactly two of your four pocket cards. While Hold ‘em players are constantly looking for big pocket pairs, Omaha players should be drawing for the flush. We will explain using the classic ‘pocket rockets’ scenario.

Say you were dealt AA in Texas Hold ‘em – you have the highest possible pair, and a great chance to improve your hand. In Omaha, if you were dealt AA with two unsuited non-connectors (for example Ad-As-9h-4c) you would be looking down at a poor starting hand. Your chances to improve to a three-of-a-kind are small (only two outs, or two remaining aces in the deck), and even if you do – three-of-a-kind is not nearly as strong a hand in Omaha as it is in Texas.

A good starting hand strategy in Omaha High would be to look for hands that contain two suits, with at least one high card in each suit. These hands will give you many outs towards flush draws. High suited connectors make the best starting hands in Omaha, since they give you many outs towards straights and flushes. Two-pairs also give many outs, but remember – you’ll only be able to use one of those pairs at the showdown.

Considering the points we just made, the best starting hand from an Omaha High strategy standpoint would be Ax-Ay-Kx-Ky, where x,y stand for any two different suits. This holds true only when playing heads-up Omaha (against one opponent). These cards give you many different outs – you can draw to two different nut flushes, a straight, two high sets and many more favorable combinations. And since you’re playing against a single opponent, having a high set – or even a “made hand” in the form of a high pair – can be a great advantage. If your rival completely misses his flop, your pair may stand, giving you the win.

Against multiple opponents, the best starting Omaha High hand is Ax-Ay-Jx-Ty, since you get more outs for the straight draw, while keeping the possibility for two nut flush draws. Starting hands are a great example of how online Omaha poker strategy is completely different monster than Texas Hold ‘em strategy.

Omaha High Strategy – Where More is Less

Any Omaha strategy must consider the following ‘more is less’ principle: Since you will be using exactly two of your four hole cards when the showdown comes, being dealt more of a good thing can significantly weaken your hand. For example, if you’re dealt a three-of-a-kind aces (A-A-A-X), the third ace has made your hand considerably weaker because the extra ace has removed another out from the deck. Your chances of hitting a qualifying three-of-a-kind made of aces (ie seeing another ace drawn in the community cards) have just been cut in half. Furthermore, the extra ace also hurts your odds for drawing a full-house, and have eliminated the chance for a four-of-a-kind.

The same applies to flushes – hands with three or four cards of the same suit are weaker than hands with exactly two suited cards, since the extra suited cards remove outs from your flush draw. Compared to a starting hand with exactly two suited cards (a-a-b-c), a hand with 4 cards of the same suit (a-a-a-a) cut your chances of hitting the flush by around 50%. Understanding even the most basic Omaha strategy will save you from playing these hands as if they were good hands, and help you see them for what they really are.

Omaha High Strategy – Worst Starting Hand

2-2-2-2 is the worst starting hand in Omaha. This hand can only amount to a pair of twos plus the best three community cards, with no chance of improving to a three-of-a-kind or four-of-a-kind twos. A common poor starting hand looks like this: Xa-Yb-Mc-Nd, when the ranks of the cards are not only all different but also widely spaced. For example: Qs-8d-6h-2c. This hand has no flush draw, no made pairs and limited straight draws.

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