How to Play Omaha Poker

Hold'em is often hailed as the Cadillac of poker, so it’s only fitting that Omaha is playfully dubbed the Ferrari of the game.

If you’re drawn to high-octane poker with non-stop action, Pot-Limit Omaha might just be your perfect ride. It currently ranks as the second most popular poker variant after No-Limit Hold’em.

Ready to dive into the thrills of this dynamic poker style? Let’s explore how to play this exhilarating game.

Omaha vs. Hold’em

While Omaha and Hold’em share many similarities in their rules, it’s essential to have a solid grasp of No-Limit Hold’em before delving into Omaha.

We’ll concentrate solely on the key differences between the two variants. We won’t revisit the fundamentals like:

• Positions
• Blinds
• Streets
• Hand Rankings
• Betting Actions

These elements are consistent with Hold’em, so we’ll focus on what sets Omaha apart.

Preflop Starting Hands in Omaha

One of the most significant distinctions in Omaha is that players receive 4 Hole Cards rather than 2. Just like in Hold’em, these Hole Cards combine with the community cards to form a hand. However, what constitutes a strong preflop hand in Hold’em might not hold the same value in Omaha.

In Omaha, the strength of a starting hand is heavily influenced by how well the four cards work together. For instance, while AKxx (with xx being any two off-suit, unconnected cards) is a solid hand in Hold’em, it's relatively weak in Omaha. Conversely, AK is considered a premium starting hand in Hold’em.

Another critical difference is that Omaha requires players to use exactly two of their Hole Cards when making a hand. In Hold’em, players have the flexibility to use any number of their Hole Cards, or even none at all, to form their best hand. This rule in Omaha means that certain starting hands can inadvertently block potential outs.

Let’s say for example, you’re holding four 2’s - 2c 2d 2s 2h (clubs, diamonds, spades and hearts) – it might initially seem like a strong hand, but it’s quite a poor hand in Omaha. Instead of holding quads, you only hold a pair of twos, which cannot improve to a set since the remaining twos are already in your hand. The same issue would apply if you were holding four Aces.

Similarly, hands like A 9 5 2 of diamonds face similar problems, as they can block potential flush draws.

On the other hand, great starting hands in Omaha, such as As Ad Ks Kd and As Ac Jd Tc, are well-coordinated and double-suited. This means that each hand has exactly two cards of each suit (double-suited), with at least one card of each suit being an ace (double-suited to the ace), which enhances their potential for strong post-flop hands.

Omaha Common Beginner Preflop Mistake

A frequent error among beginners is overvaluing AAxx and KKxx hands.

In Omaha, AAxx and KKxx don’t hold the same power they do in Hold’em. The true strength of AAxx relies significantly on the other two cards, and KKxx often gets outclassed in a preflop all-in scenario (unless stacks are exceptionally short).

Without improvement post-flop, AAxx typically just constitutes an overpair and is often insufficient to justify going all-in.

Omaha Hands Post-Flop

In Omaha, hand strengths post-flop are markedly different from those in Hold’em. With four Hole Cards instead of two, it’s generally easier to build strong hands in Omaha.

What might be sufficient to stack off with in Hold’em often won’t cut it in Omaha. The game is frequently described as one where only the nuts (the absolute best possible hand) will suffice.

In many post-flop scenarios, failing to have the nuts can be a costly mistake, as opponents are likely to hold them. There's significant profit to be made from less experienced Omaha players who mistakenly treat their post-flop hands as if they were Hold’em hands, leading them to commit chips too liberally.

Particularly, it's crucial to exercise caution with overpairs, two-pair hands, and lower sets. In Omaha, even a bottom set can pose serious risks. New players often lose substantial stacks before understanding that non-nut hands, including sets, are not as robust as they might be in Hold’em.

Common Beginner Post-Flop Mistake

A frequent error among newcomers is neglecting the two-hole-card rule and misinterpreting their hand strength.

Consider this example:

• Board: Ac Jc 7c 5c 4s
• Hand: Kc Jd 9s 7h

A player with a Texas Hold’em background might mistakenly believe they have the nut flush with the Kh. However, in Omaha, you can only use two of your hole cards and three of the community cards to form a hand. In this case, you actually just have a pair of sevens.

Similarly:

• Board: Ah Ad Ac Ks 3s
• Hand: Kh Jd 9s 4c

It might seem like you have aces full, but in reality, you only have three of a kind with Aces. You can't use four cards from the board. If your opponent has a pocket pair like 22xx, they will have a full house and beat your hand.

Pot-Limit Structure

Hold’em is usually played with a no-limit structure, while Omaha is often played with a pot-limit structure. So, what’s the difference?

In No-Limit, you can bet or raise any amount at any time, provided you have enough chips. In a Pot-Limit structure, your bets and raises are limited to the current size of the pot.

Getting Started with Omaha

Before diving into a game, it's wise to thoroughly understand the rules. Online play money games are available to help you learn the ropes without risking real money.

Once you’re comfortable with the rules, check out our top Omaha tips in this Omaha poker strategy article.

Omaha also offers various other versions, such as:

• 5-card PLO
• 6-card PLO
• 4-card No-Limit Omaha, and more.

Starting with regular 4-card Pot-Limit Omaha is probably the best approach before exploring the more exotic variants.