kentucky_jim
08-09-2009, 10:25 PM
Omaha Hi Basics
Omaha is similar to holdem with the difference being you are dealt 4 cards of which you can only play 2 cards and must play 2 cards. Don't forget this only 2 must play 2 this is a major mistake new players make. Small pairs can get you in a lot of trouble let them go don't trap yourself. The main thing to remember is to always play for the best hand possible such as ace high straights, flushes and such. If you play for small straights such as 23456 it is just so easy to be dominated in the hand. If there is only a straight on the board and you are playing to it be sure you have the best possible straight. The same goes for flushes a real trap hand is something like 10 7 hearts with a board of Q 9 6 of hearts. There are just to many things that can go wrong in Omaha unless you are playing the best possible hand. Unlike holdem where it is possible to go to the flop 80/20 favorite in omaha the best you can ever be is 60/40 so this is the reason hand selection is so important. When you first start playing omaha stick to the top 30 and don't play anything else till you understand how to identify trap hands and you will save a lot of chips to many things can go wrong on the turn and river and if you go in with weak hands the best you can make is a weak hand stick to good starting hands.
You want to be playing high cards double suited whenever possible. Here are the top 30
1. AAKK 11. KQJT 21. QQAK
2. AAJT 12. KKTT 22. QQAJ
3. AAQQ 13. KKAQ 23. QQAT
4. AAJJ 14. KKAJ 24. QQKJ
5. AATT 15. KKAT 25. QQKT
6. AA99 16. KKQJ 26. QQJT
7. AAXX 17. KKQT 27. QQJQ
8. 89TJ 18. KKJT 28. QQ99
9. KKQQ 19. QQJJ 29. JJTT
10. KKJJ 20. QQTT 30. JJT9
Pot Building in Pot limit later
Omaha is similar to holdem with the difference being you are dealt 4 cards of which you can only play 2 cards and must play 2 cards. Don't forget this only 2 must play 2 this is a major mistake new players make. Small pairs can get you in a lot of trouble let them go don't trap yourself. The main thing to remember is to always play for the best hand possible such as ace high straights, flushes and such. If you play for small straights such as 23456 it is just so easy to be dominated in the hand. If there is only a straight on the board and you are playing to it be sure you have the best possible straight. The same goes for flushes a real trap hand is something like 10 7 hearts with a board of Q 9 6 of hearts. There are just to many things that can go wrong in Omaha unless you are playing the best possible hand. Unlike holdem where it is possible to go to the flop 80/20 favorite in omaha the best you can ever be is 60/40 so this is the reason hand selection is so important. When you first start playing omaha stick to the top 30 and don't play anything else till you understand how to identify trap hands and you will save a lot of chips to many things can go wrong on the turn and river and if you go in with weak hands the best you can make is a weak hand stick to good starting hands.
You want to be playing high cards double suited whenever possible. Here are the top 30
1. AAKK 11. KQJT 21. QQAK
2. AAJT 12. KKTT 22. QQAJ
3. AAQQ 13. KKAQ 23. QQAT
4. AAJJ 14. KKAJ 24. QQKJ
5. AATT 15. KKAT 25. QQKT
6. AA99 16. KKQJ 26. QQJT
7. AAXX 17. KKQT 27. QQJQ
8. 89TJ 18. KKJT 28. QQ99
9. KKQQ 19. QQJJ 29. JJTT
10. KKJJ 20. QQTT 30. JJT9
Pot Building in Pot limit later