Hello! My name is Alex and this is a quick introduction to the various types Omaha poker that I like to play online or in the casinos. Everyone knows that the most important skill in poker is to know when to fold or when to hold them cards. So good luck and I hope you can get better by following my advice and tips on my favorite game – Omaha!
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Omaha Hold'em
Omaha Poker is a variation of Texas Hold’em that is played using four hole cards instead of only two. The best five cards are used to determine the winner, but you must use two cards from your hand and three cards from the board. Unlike Hold’em, you may not use any more than three of the cards of the board. The betting system and the blinds are the same as Hold’em.
Each hand begins with each player being dealt four cards. There is a big blind, a small blind, and a round of betting. If the game is Omaha Pot Limit, each player can bet up to the size of the pot. A raise must be the same as or more than the previous raise. Once this round is completed, the dealer will lay out a three card flop. This is done exactly like Hold’em. Following the flop, another round of betting ensues.
The turn card is laid out by the dealer, followed by a third round of betting. The fifth and final card is laid out by the dealer and the final round of betting is completed.
The player with the best hand made of five cards is the winner. However, in Omaha poker, you are only allowed to make a five card hand by using two cards from your hand and three cards from the board.
One of the best places to play Omaha online is Winamax. Winamax is a great site with thousands of players from around the world. They say their main focus is players from Europe but there are a lot of international players too. They offer different stakes and plenty of Omaha tables. Pro tip - when you play at Winamax always use a good poker HUD!
I personally have been using for a few years now Hand2Note for Winamax (If you decide to go for the paid Hand2Note plan don't forget to use a coupon to save a few dollars) and my results have been outstanding! Very highly recommended fast and free software!
Omaha Hi-Lo Poker
This could be one of the most challenging variations of poker that is played today. In order to be successful, you’ll need to have a good sense of what hands are likely to take the pot. You need to play for both sides of the pot to come out ahead in this game. This game’s popularity is growing very quickly due to the challenge it offers, and there are many events each year that are dedicated specifically to this game.
Most of the pots are smaller in this game than in Hold’em. However, players typically get their money back more often during this game. In other words, you can generally play stakes that are a little higher than you’re used to during this game.
Omaha Hi-Lo is similar to Hold’em. There are two blinds and the table rotates clockwise. However, at the beginning, there are four cards dealt to each player. You will use two to make your final hand, but the high and the low hands will split the pot. There must be at least three low cards dealt to the board by the dealer for a low hand to be possible.
Some hands can scoop both the high and the low pots. Suited cards can win by making a flush. You’ll also have a chance to make the wheel (A-2-3-4-5). If you have both high and low cards, you might have a shot at a straight on the high end or two pair high and a low pair.
Don’t try for half the pot, unless it is very high. You can have a good hand to begin with, but if the flop misses your suits and doesn’t pair, you need to fold. Playing for half the pot is not worth betting the rounds to lose your money.
You can also end up only winning half of either pot. This is called getting quartered. It’s not that uncommon for more than one player to have the A-2. Never raise on the last turn or river card, if you only have the low hand. Obviously – given all these possibilities – Omaha Hi-low is not a game in which bluffing frequently is recommended!
That is a it guys and gals. The rules may seem daunting or bit contrived, compared to the Texas style Hold’em game, but once you get the basics right it actually becomes seconds nature to make those important calls pretty quick. Using a poker HUD also gives you and extra edge, when playing online so think about that too.
This is it for today. I hope you got the rules down and are ready to start playing (and winning at) the greatest poker game of them all – OMAHA!