How To Play Omaha Poker
Ohama Poker plays the second best in attracting a large amount
of people in card games next to Texas Hold'em. Ohama Poker is
very similar to Texas Hold'em, with the main difference being
that a player can choose his or her hand out of nine cards
instead of seven. This is the reason for the growing popularity
of the game.
Omaha, which has the same structure as Texas Hold'em, is played
very similar to Texas Hold'em; the only difference being that
each player is dealt four hole cards instead of two. The players
post the blinds and then receive their hole cards. After
receiving the hole cards, a betting round takes place and then
comes the 'flop', the 'turn' and the 'river' with a betting
round between each of them.
The main difference between Omaha and Texas Hold'em is that each
of the players has to form his hand out of precisely two hole
cards and three board cards. This is different from Texas
Hold'em where a player could use either one or both (or even
none) of his hole cards. If a player is trying to win the low
hand, he must use two unpaired hole cards that are ranked lower
than eight, and three board cards, also unpaired, that are also
ranked lower than eight.
In Omaha, the starting hands should be coordinated, which means
that they should fit together. What you really want are cards
that are more likely to form into straights, flushes or a full
house. It's very rare that a pair would hold up on an Omaha
table. Look for double-suited hands, giving you two chances of a
flush and cards that are close together or considered in a run.
In playing the game, this is an example where many new Omaha
players falter. The players, for instance, see four spades on
the board, which are the community cards, and they have the Ace
of Spades in their hand. They think they have the nut flush,
forgetting that a player must use two hole cards, therefore
needing two spades in his hand to make a flush.
Omaha is played either Pot Limit or Limit. The game is not
played No Limit, as having four hole cards gives so many extra
possibilities, chances, and permutations. If playing No Limit,
the game would be too wild and without direction.