Five More Omaha Poker Tips
(This article is a follow up to "Top Ten Omaha Poker Tips")
We've added a follow-up to our last article, which contained the top ten Omaha tips. Here is a quick list that will give you five tips for improving your Omaha poker game. After reading these you should be a better player:
#1 - Be Picky with your Starting Hands
When you are playing Omaha, you want to be picky with what hands you are willing to play. When playing hi-low, you have more possibilities, but when you are playing plain old Omaha, you want to start with high hands.
You only want to play hands that have lots of potential, such as wrap-arounds. Wrap-arounds, or straight-ables, are cards that go together for a straight such as 8910J. When you have a hand with cards close to each other, you have a great shot at making a straight.
This is a pretty good starting hand because it gives you lots of possibilities. If say your hand is 8c9c10dJd, you have an even better hand with 2 different suits paired to help not only for a straight but a flush as well. If you have 3 or 4 cards suited, you probably don't want to play that as you have taken some of your own outs and have less left in the deck. Learn more about Omaha Poker Starting Hands.
#2 - Don't get Attached to Your Pretty Pocket Rockets
If you have ever played any kind of Hold'em poker, you know how sweet it is to look down at your cards and see pocket aces. No matter what the game, you should of course raise up your aces pre-flop, but don't become too attached to them.
Just because they look pretty by themselves, they don't always look so pretty with the flop. If the flop comes up with 3 cards of the same suit and your ace isn't of the suit, let it go! I know you pre-flop raised with those rockets, but don't continue to call when you are hoping for outs that may not even help you.
#3 - Know When to Hold 'em and When to Fold 'em
Although hitting a top pair in Hold'em is a good hand, it's not the case when playing Omaha. Not only do you have to be picky about what cards you play, but you also need to know when to get rid of them like hot potatoes.
If you do not flop a set, 2 pair, a straight or a flush, you should probably fold your hand. Now I am not telling you to not follow your gut, but if you get in the habit of chasing all the time you will end up losing more than you win in the long run.
#4 - Be Aware of the Community Cards
It is important to know what you have in your hand and how the community cards help that. But more importantly, you will need to know what other hands are possible. What hands beat you? You may have flopped a set, but is that someone else's full house? Is there a flush draw out there?
Always realize that the cards you're hoping for could actually do you in. Learning to recognize what is out there and what can help improve others hands will help you with your personal strategy and skill.
#5 - Study Your Opponents and the Way They Play
Too many people put too much faith in the cards. Yes, of course you must have cards to win, but what those cards are don't necessarily matter all the time. You need to know how to read your fellow poker players and get a feel for how they play.
Do they call every hand? Do they usually fold after the flop or before the river? How many showdowns do they get to? How many do they win? Are they a raiser? Or are they a calling station? These are all things you will benefit from paying attention to in order to know how to bet and win against them.