What is Omaha Poker?
Omaha Poker is a form of poker that is on the surface very similar to Texas Hold ‘Em, but with a few very important distinctions that make it a very different game.
What’s the difference between Omaha Poker and Texas Hold ‘Em?
Omaha is structured the same as Texas Hold ‘Em; there’s a round of pre-flop betting, followed by the flop, the turn and the river (and their respective betting rounds). The difference, though, is that while you are dealt two private “hole” cards in Texas Hold ‘Em, you get four in Omaha. And, crucially, you must make your best hand out of exactly two of your hole cards and three of the five community cards.
What is Omaha Hi-Lo?
Omaha Hi-Lo is a very popular variation of Omaha. In Omaha Hi-Lo, you make separate best and worst hands the same way you make your best hand in the regular game (two of your hole cards, three community cards). The pot is split between the holders of the highest and lowest hands; this can sometimes be the same player! Omaha Hi-Lo is usually played “8 or better,” which means that the low hand must consist of five cards with a value of 8 or less to qualify. Straights and flushes don’t count against a low hand, so A-2-3-4-5, even if it is suited, is the lowest possible hand. (Note that that very same hand could also be the highest!)
What is “playing for the nut”?
Since each player has so many cards to choose from, the “nut” hand usually wins in Omaha—that is, the highest possible flush, straight or full house. For that reason, most players don’t rely too heavily on hands like two pair, which could easily win a round of Hold ‘Em. That’s known as “playing for the nut.”
What are some good strategies for playing Omaha?
As mentioned above, it’s always good to play for the nut. Beware of pocket pairs—unless they lead to a four of a kind or a strong full house, you may get beat. And raising before the flop can be dangerous, as the flop can change the field drastically, particularly in this game.
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Is Omaha a popular online game?
Omaha is a very popular poker variation among online players. You’re always likely to find a large selection of tables playing Omaha and its variations online. Check out my list of the best sites to play Omaha poker on!
What are the variations of Omaha Poker?
Once you understand the basics of Omaha poker, as it compares to Texas Hold’em, it’s worth it to have a grasp on the different variations there are of the game. Especially since different types are more popular in certain online poker rooms.
There are three kinds of betting structures involved in playing Omaha, and I’ll give a brief synopsis of each below, so you can make a better decision as to which kind you’d like to try.
Pot Limit Omaha Poker
Poker 101 Freeroll
This is one of the more popular variations, and you’ll find that these games are usually the most busy on any given poker site. This is because it is somewhat less risky.
Poker 101 Hands
The minimum amount you can bet is the same as the size of the big blind, but you can bet up to the size of the pot. As for raises, the minimum must be as much as the previous bet or raise in that round. As for the max bet, you can bet up to the size of the pot, and you can include the total bets on the table from the other players.
For example, let’s say that the current amount in the pot is $100. With no previous actions, you could bet up to $100. After that, the action moves to the next player who could either fold, call $100, or raise any amount between the minimum and the maximum, which in this case would be $400, since the person who raised would have called $100, bringing the pot size to $300, and then raise $300 more, making a total bet of $400. It’s worth it to note that in this Omaha variation, there isn’t a limit to the amount of raises players can make.
Fixed Limit Omaha Poker
This is the more structured version of the game, and in this version, the pot can only be raised a maximum of four times and the bet or raise must be equal to the size of the blinds. These games tend to have less action, since there isn’t much folding of hands, because of how cheap it is to continue playing the hand through.
No Limit Omaha Poker
I don’t recommend the No Limit version for newer players, as it is a very aggressive game and you can lose money very quickly. However if you’re a more seasoned player and like that fast-paced, high-risk style of play, it can be a lot of fun.
101 Poker Club
In No Limit Omaha, the name gives away why this version of the game is so much more aggressive. The only limit to how much you can bet is however many chips you have. The minimum bet is the big blind, but you could decide to bet your entire chip stack if you wanted to. The minimum raise needs to be at least as much as the previous bet in that round, so if the player before you bet $100, then you must raise a minimum of $100. The maximum amount you can raise in No-limit is only limited by the number of chips you have.