Game Tactics in Omaha Hold’em Limit Poker. The 1st Part

Introduction to limit Omaha

In limit Omaha with low limits one can quite easily win as much as in limit Texas holdem if not more. Basic strategy is the same as in Texas holdem: the main principle is to wait for the right cards. Nevertheless there are differences in the strategy of this kind of poker. Omaha has its advantages: general running from winning to losing is quite smaller (the difference in profit after winning or losing is less tangible). More than that in Texas holdem it is harder to foretell whether you have the best combination or not. In Omaha it’s not so important because each player has four cards and thereby to win one needs a combination much higher than any other. In most cases to win you’ll have to collect a nut. In other words in Omaha it is easier to understand whether you have an opportunity to win with a certain combination or not and thereafter you can avoid high losses. Besides that, as you might have already learned, most bad players will call with quite bad cards (e.g. with to pairs), which means that in slow-playing you will be able to get good profit.

Often a lot of people play too many combinations and too passive on the tables of limit Omaha (loose-passive game). More than six players in a pot is not an exceptional case. Thus the most advantageous combinations in limit Omaha poker are those where you can get high straight or high flush.

Usually limit Omaha is played long-hand.

Preflop

Unlike Texas holdem in Omaha there are no such top combinations like A-A or K-K which would ensure you with victory almost always. It happens because in Omaha each player receives four cards increasing the possibility of being beaten (on the basis of board cards) no matter how good are the cards which you received at the beginning. Nevertheless we don’t say that there is no difference between good and bad combinations. It’s just that you should play only the combinations which can provide you with nuts (top straight, top flush or top full house). Super flop is when you have quite good combination (two pairs, three of a kind) and quite good chances to collect straight, flush or full house. Such situation is uncommon that’s why remember – you should play any flop if you have a chance to get nuts. Keep an eye on the board cards! For example, if there are a lot of players in the pot and on the board there is a pair and two suited cards – don’t play straight draw. Chances that someone has already got full house are too high.
When you have good draw, for example (all suited), you’d better not raise. In this case it is to your advantage that as many players as possible stayed in the pot and therefore it is better not to get them out of the game by raising a bet. You won’t win often but when you do this try and take a big pot.

When you have high cards, for example , it is better to raise. Also it is better to raise when you get various options of getting nuts. Raise to increase the pot.

Cards like A-A-x-x or K-K-x-x are also worth playing. Such cards play better against smaller number of opponents so try to kick them out by raising. To continue the game you’ll have to collect three of a kind or a full house. Bear in mind that in Omaha top pair is not very valuable because the chances to come off a loser are too high.

For continuation see Part II.