Omaha Poker Lessons

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Omaha Poker Lessons

Omaha is sometimes called Omaha Hold'em because the rules in this game are very similar to Texas Holdem, or Texas Hold'em. This is probabaly one reason why this poker game is fast gaining points on the poker popularity chart.

There are two variations of Omaha, Omaha High only and Omaha Hi/Lo split. It can be played with the betting being a structured Limit game or you can find No Limit and Pot Limit games.

Omaha Poker Game Rules:

The rules in this game are very similar to Texas Holdem, or Texas Hold'em.

	Each player is dealt with four (instead of two) cards face down (hole?).
	Then 5 community? cards are dealt on the table face up.
	The players must make the highest hand combination using two of their four hole cards and the Five community cards.

Omaha is usually played in Hi/Lo variation, meaning the pot is split between the highest hand and the lowest hand.

If you do not have an 8 or lower among your four hole cards, you cannot qualify for low.

If Five or more cards 8 or lower do not end up in the community cards, there is no possibility for low. In that case, the pot will not be split (unless two hands will tie for high).

Aces are either low or high. Straights and flushes do not count for low.

Omaha Hi-Lo Poker Lessons

Omaha is usually played in Hi/Lo variation, meaning the pot is split between the highest hand and the lowest hand.

If you do not have an 8 or lower among your four hole cards, you cannot qualify for low.

If Five or more cards 8 or lower do not end up in the community cards, there is no possibility for low. In that case, the pot will not be split (unless two hands will tie for high).

Aces are either low or high. Straights and flushes do not count for low. Omaha High-Lo Tips

	You should be aiming to scoop the pot. Although there are two ways to win in Omaha Hi-Lo, you should always aim high and shoot for scooping the pot. So after the flop, if your hand is not a sure high hand winner and will probably split the pot with another's low hand, or if you don't have a shot at the high hand and you're trying to play for low, you should usually check/fold and exit early.
	You can play some weaker hands if you're in the late position to bet. Just like when playing for Omaha High, being last to act gives you the leverage to play weaker or middle hand so long as the bet has not been raised. This of course is in hoping you'll get a lucky flop.
	Know which hands to play early on. You should usually avoid middle suited connectors like 8h and 9h, though they maybe be playable in Texas Hold'em and Omaha Hi they're generally bad news in Omaha Hi-Lo. To make a high hand out of a straight you need to catch the cards that will also qualify for low. Neither should you play medium-sized cards, they can't make the nuts and your only best option is splitting the pot. Also don't overbet A2, A3, 2 3 nut lows. These are often shared with another player and you can end up getting "quartered".
	In Omaha Hi-Lo, high hands lose value against the low hands. Your hole cards may give you the high hand, but when 3 low cards are flopped your hand immediately loses its value. Because someone is probably holding a low hand and win half the pot or you may lose the high to a straight as well.
	Flops to watch out for. Watch out for uniform flops like 8-7-6 as they can easily turn into straights that can beat your high pair trips or other good hand. You should also beware of suited flops, which can complete a flush. In a case like this you should be holding the nut in that suit or have trips or two pair that can fill up to win.
	Check the raiser's chips. Players who are close to all-in usually rush the betting just to get all their chips in a sink-or-swim last hand that doesn't merit a raise.
	Observe your opponents. Study your opponent's moves and strategy. Do they bluff, or can they be bluffed? Do they show tells? (giveaway behavior) that would disclose information about their hands? This is very important skill in all poker games.
	Let your opponent catch you bluffing once in a while. This will help make you unpredictable thereby creating a strategy that's hard to read. When a player bluffs, he can win a pot that he sometimes don't deserve. You may lose a few chips while you're building this strategy, but it will get you calls from weaker hands down the line when you are really strong and needing the action.
	Pay close attention. Omaha Hi-Lo rules can get confusing and at times easy to think that you've got the nut when you really don't. Be careful to avoid these costly mistakes by paying close attention both to your cards and the game rules.
	When hand is over, turn your cards face up for the dealer to see. Some hands are difficult to read in Omaha Hi-Lo, after a showdown you should show your cards to allow the dealer to read your hand. It would be unfair if you mistakenly discard the real winner.

Omaha High Poker Tips

	In Omaha, always play for the nut! In the game of Omaha, it usually takes the nut hand or something close to that to win. The nut is a hand that can only be beaten by hidden quads or straight flushes, which are referred to as the pure nuts. A paired card of three of a kind very seldom win in this poker game, you always need to shoot for the nut straight, nut flush, or nut full house to win.
	Your starting hands should be coordinated. Since Omaha produces numerous card combinations, the best starting hands are those where all four cards are working together. This means that the four cards should have a straight possibility that may wrap around the flop. Double suited hands with Aces are good for the nut flush, however, three or four cards of the same suit is usually garbage as it diminishes your flush possibilities.
	Be alerted for the nut hand possibilities. Make sure you have identified the three best hand possibilities of your cards and how they make change as the boards develops (as each round unfolds).
	Big pairs rarely win. A high pair with a good kicker is good for a Texas Hold'em game but not in Omaha. Here you'll need to flop two pair, a set, or better. Also you usually don't raise before a flop, unless you are holding Aces or Kings. One of the few scenarios where you can raise is when you are unraised on the button and have a really strong hand.
	You can play some weaker hands if you're in the late position to bet. That is if the bet has not been raised and you are last to act. This is of course in hoping that the next rounds will improve your hand.
	Know which hand to value or fold. Fold your straight or straight draw if that's all you're holding and you don't flop an unpaired rainbow. But if you do get the right kind of flop, bet/raise to discourage the back door flush draws. Also don't put too much value on a small pair, if for example you have a pair of 4 this is only useful if you flop a set. Then again a low set is not useful when playing Omaha.
	Observe your opponents. Study your opponent's moves and strategy. Do they bluff, or can they be bluffed? Do they show tells (giveaway behavior) that would disclose information about their hands? This is very important skill in all poker games.
	Let your opponent catch you bluffing once in a while. This will help make you unpredictable thereby creating a strategy that's hard to read. When a player bluffs, he can win a pot that he sometimes don't deserve. You may lose a few chips while you're building this strategy, but it will get you calls from weaker hands down the line when you are really strong and needing the action.
	Check the raiser's chips. Players who are close to all-in usually rush the betting just to get all their chips in a sink-or-swim last hand that doesn't merit a raise.
	Omaha is not Texas Hold'em. Although they have some similarities they are totally different games altogether. You must learn to play Omaha correctly if you want to win, you can't use your Hold'em strategy for this game.

Omaha Poker Lesson | Omaha Poker Lesson Hi-Lo Tips

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