Omaha Poker

Omaha Poker has as you would expect, many similarities to Texas Hold ‘em in as much as the betting process, there are the usual small blinds and big blinds and the community cards are dealt in the same fashion. The main differences in an Omaha Poker game are that each Omaha Poker game player is dealt four hole cards, as opposed to two. The player then has to try to make their winning hand using two of these cards and also must use three of the dealt community cards. Omaha poker players are unable to use more than three of the ‘board’ cards. Making a flush or a straight like this proves to be a much more complicated affair than in Texas Hold ‘em, Admittedly not only will all the other winning hands be equally difficult to achieve but on the plus side all the other Omaha poker players at the table will be experiencing the same difficulties.

If you are playing hi/lo Omaha poker then getting the highest hand still only will provide you with half the pot, the lowest hand wins the other half. So whilst playing Omaha poker, players are looking to secure both ends of the card spectrum, so as to ensure that they do not lose out on the full pot. This of course is easier said than done, and it certainly makes for an interesting poker game.

You need to be aware that only eight’s and cards below constitute low cards, however it is also worth remembering that all the mid range cards are the least attractive cards to hold as they will neither provide either a good low or a good high hand and will often provide you with the right ingredient to go bust.

Playing Omaha poker is certainly a learning curve, and the more that you play the better you will get. Ensure however that when you first start playing that you are prepared for the inevitable losses, as this is a game, that although short on rules is big on complexity.