Omaha

• HOW TO PLAY
• BEST STARTING HANDS
• WINNING STRATEGIES – OMAHA & OMAHA (HI\LO)

HOW TO PLAY

Players receive four 'hole' cards that only they can see, and five 'community' cards are dealt that everyone can see and use. Each player must use two of their hole cards, as well as three of the community cards, to make their hand.

The game is divided into four rounds of betting, and the betting moves clockwise around the table. Betting starts from the position next to the dealer button, which moves one place to the left after each hand. In online games, the dealer button replaces the 'real' dealer.

The Blinds

Before a game starts, the two players to the left of the dealer post 'blind' bets, so-called because they are made before the players have seen any cards. The blinds ensure that there is some money in the pot to play for at the very start of the game. The player to the left of the dealer posts the 'small blind', and the player to his left posts the 'big blind'.

Pre-Flop

Each player receives four cards that only they can see, called 'hole' cards. After this, the first round of betting is started by the first player to the left of the big blind. This player, who is known as 'under the gun', can:

When the betting returns to the player who made the big blind (the first full bet), that player can 'check' or opt to stay in the game without adding anything to the pot. However, if an opponent has raised, the big blind has three options: he must fold, call, or re-raise.

The Flop

Three 'community' cards, which all players can use to make their five-card hand, are dealt face up on the table. A second round of betting follows.

The Turn

A fourth community card is dealt face up on the table. The third round of betting follows.

The River

The fifth and final community card is dealt, followed by the final round of betting.

The Showdown

If there is more than one player left in the game, there is a showdown in which the players reveal their cards and the highest hand wins (see BEST STARTING HANDS below). If two players share an identical hand, the pot is split.

OMAHA – BEST STARTING HANDS

1. A-A-K-K double suited
2. A-A-J-10 double suited
3. A-A-Q-Q double suited
4. A-A-J-J double suited
5. A-A-10-10 double suited
6. A-A-9-9 double suited
7. A-A-X-X ( X ) = any card
8. 8-9-10-J double suited
9. K-K-Q-Q preferably suited
10. K-K-J-J preferably suited
11. K-Q-J-10 double suited
12. K-K-10-10 double suited
13. K-K-A-Q preferably suited
14. K-K-A-J preferably suited
15. K-K-A-10 preferably suited
16. K-K-Q-J preferably suited
17. K-K-Q-10 preferably suited
18. K-K-J-10 preferably suited
19. Q-Q-10-10 preferably suited
20. Q-Q-A-K preferably suited
21. Q-Q-A-J preferably suited
22. Q-Q-A-10 preferably suited
23. Q-Q-K-J preferably suited
24. Q-Q-K-10 preferably suited
25. Q-Q-J-10 preferably suited
26. Q-Q-J-9 preferably suited

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WINNING STRATEGIES OMAHA AND OMAHA (HI\LO)

Always start by following THE HOG'S GOLDEN RULES.

Be sure to review and memorize our BEST STARTING HANDS in Omaha and TOP HANDS in Omaha Hi/Lo. When playing Omaha (Hi/Lo) the cards need to do the talking. Omaha (Hi/Lo) is perhaps the hardest game to learn/master, but the easiest game to play after doing so. The 'playing' rules are simple – if you have the 'nuts' (best possible hand) bet, if not – fold. When drawing another card make sure you are drawing for the nuts. It is crucial to understand the rules of Omaha before starting. The most confusing one being that you MUST play 2 cards from your hand. Unlike Holdem where you can play only one card, or none … in Omaha 2 cards from your hand must be used. Thus if the final 5 community cards are A-A-A-A-2 – the best possible Omaha hand will be K-K-x-x. 2nd best will be Q-Q-x-x etc. One more example: if the final 5 cards are T-J-Q-K-A, you MUST have at least 2 of these cards in your hand to claim that straight. If your hand is A-9-8-2, your final hand will be 8-9-T-J-Q (not the straight T-A). Omaha is a wild game; many pros won’t play it because of its complexity.

1. An opening hand should always have a lot of “flexibility”. This means many straight options as well as flush opportunities. Look at the differences between the following 2 hands:
   A K K Q as opposed to K K 3 8. Both hands have a pair of kings. Lets say flop is K J 4 - both hands have a set (3 of a kind) of K’s. But the first hand has 9 clubs to make the nut (highest) flush, and 3 more T’s to make the nut straight. The second hand will lose to any club, and possibly any card that makes a straight (9-T-Q-A).
2. When playing (Hi\Lo) the best hands are flexible low hands i.e.
   A 2 3 K here you have many options to make the nut low, as well as good options for winning the high if high cards dominate the flop.
3. Never play hands that are limited in options.
4. Never draw on a hand that even if you get your best possible card you may still lose i.e. you have Q-T-9-9 flop is K-K-J. You may look at that hand and say: I have an A or a Q to make a straight, and a 9 will give me a full house (9’s full of K’s). But if you opponent has a K-J in his hand – you are drawing dead.
5. Omaha is a very deceptive game – most of the time when a flop comes out there will be possibilities or cards that can come out on turn or river to make your hand. It is crucial to not get fooled by this! ONLY open with strong flexible hands. While you may be looking at a total of 6 cards to make a straight after flop, your opponent may be looking at 18 cards for his hand. Take the flop example in number 1: K J 4 if your hand is Q-T-6-2 – you will have 3 A’s and 3 9’s to make that straight (as far as you can tell the A and the 9 are not options because they make a possible flush). If your opponent has A K K Q he has 9 clubs + three J’s + three 4’s + one K to beat you even if you make your straight!!! So your odds of making your straight on turn are 6/41, and even if you make your straight, your opponent will have 21 cards to out run you in the river (roughly 50% chance). Why 21 cards in the river? Lets say turn card is 9 and you make your straight, your opponent now has: 9 clubs(for flush), three J’s + three 9’s + three 4’s (all for a full house), one K (4 of a kind), two T’s (for better straight). WAIT FOR A BETTER HAND!!

FOR OMAHA (HI\LO)

1. Always look for hands that have good low possibilities. This means hands like described in strategy #2. it is essential that you have protected lows. This means A-2 and another low card (3-4-5). Many players stay in with A-2 in their hand as possible low hands. Flop comes out 8-7-3. Look at that – you have the best low. Turn card is 2. now the best low is anybody with A4 in hand. Oooops. You’re A-2 now represents the 7th “best low” option. Low cards that are lower then yours are: A-4, A-5, 4-5, A-6,4-6,5-6. All will be lows to the 7. You only have a low to the 8 – ( 8-7-3-2-A ).
2. NEVER draw for a low only. You may have A-2-5-9 and flop is
   8 3 Q. Your opponent may have A 2 4 J. At best you will make your low and split it with your opponent. You will lose 50% of your money (if each player put $100 into the pot - $100 will go to the high hand – the flush, $50 to each low hand). The flop may not be 3 suited cards – take the same hands and flop is 8-3-J – you are in big trouble.
3. Taking the same 2 hands from above: if you get a chance at winning the high i.e., flop is 8-5-3(you have a pair of 5’s, and the low), now bet it strong. You are very likely going to 1/4 (win 3/4’s of the pot) from your opponent. In a pot limit game you may well scare off any other players with possible high hands to make.
4. On good flops bet strong. Your hand A 2 8 8, flop
   T 7 8. If one player has A-2-3-x in hand the other J-J-9-x. Both will stay in no matter what you bet, one player has a protected low hand (no matter what low card comes out he will make his low), and the other player has the nuts (J high straight). But the player with the J high straight is in loads of trouble! You will beat out his sraight with any pair hitting, or any club. In addition, if any low card comes out (that’s not an A or 2 you will stand to make something back).
5. The game of Omaha is very complex and tricky. There are many available books on how to play. I strongly recommend reading at least one. Check out our RECOMMENDED POKER BOOKS for our featured books on this exciting game.

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