What are the varieties of Omaha poker?
Omaha has several varieties, differing in both the initial conditions and the goals of the game. These are:
- Omaha High;
- Omaha High Low;
- Five Card Omaha.
The goal of Omaha High is the strongest poker hand, the winner of which becomes the winner of the game.
More diverse are the rules of Omaha High/Low, in which the possibility of winning is determined by the presence of two types of combinations – the most strong and the weakest. The winner of each game can be the winner of both combinations at the same time, dividing the pot in half.
A Lo combination consists of 5 cards from eight to two, and its seniority is determined by the card with the highest face value. The weakest hand is the combination of A,2,3,4,5, in which the face value of the ace is taken as one. In poker slang, this combination is called a “wheel” or “bicycle”. Thus, the probable presence in the game of the junior combination is determined very simply – by the presence on the board at least three cards, face value less than “9”. With their smaller number Lo-combination is impossible and the player will be determined only by Hi-combination, which is always present.
An important point is that the same player can collect both Lo and Hi combinations at the same time. In this case pocket cards can be different – for the highest combination one pair of cards, for the lowest one – another. This situation is called “scooping the pot”. Moreover, regular Omaha poker players often refuse to play a hand if they have only a high hand.
Five Card Omaha differs from previous versions by dealing five starting cards instead of four. The rest of the rules in Omaha poker are similar to the previous ones. The varieties of Omaha poker described above, in turn, are divided into limit and pot-limit versions:
- The rules of Omaha limit poker provide for limited game bets, defined by generally accepted values. Betting sizes are indicated in the roumes in the characteristics of the tables through a fraction, and means that the first betting size applies in the first 2 rounds of bidding, and the second – in the subsequent;
- Pot-limit version – a game with bets limited to the size of the pot and equal to the sum of the average pot and all bets.
Omaha poker game strategy
Despite the fact that for Omaha poker, the rules and combinations are close to the rules of Texas Hold’em poker, game decisions in Omaha are based on the following considerations.
First, decisions on the preflop must be based on the best combination of pocket cards among themselves. For example, the best combination would be the one-handed pairs of the same value. For example, AsKs and AhKh, which give a good chance of making combinations such as the straight in poker or the flush on the postflop. There’s also a high chance of getting a set in poker. But keep in mind that in Omaha poker, this hand doesn’t play as important a combination as it does in Hold’em. And, due to the fact that the rules of Omaha poker provide the use of only two pocket cards, an extra ace or king on the flop does not give such a strong combination as a full house. In any case, the more opponents at the table, the more critical the approach to starting hands should be.
Second, having a large number of cards gives players a wide range of possibilities to make different combinations on the postflop. A straight or flush on one or more players is a common situation for Omaha poker. Therefore, play on the postflop should continue with combinations of 2 pairs or higher, as well as flush draws for long tables, and add straight draws for short or long tables with low stakes. In other cases, especially when your opponents are being aggressive, you should discard the hand you have.
This is a complex but very exciting game that requires a clear knowledge of Omaha poker rules and its peculiarities. Existing experience playing Texas Holdem offers certain, but not decisive advantages. A good option for success in this game would be poker lessons and training with experienced mentors, organized by the Academy of Poker. Proper analysis of starting hands and table cards are the basics you can learn at the Poker Academy, and without them it’s impossible to start winning in this exciting and dynamic game.