5 Must-Follow Tips to Win Big in Omaha Poker

Omaha poker, otherwise known as Omaha hold ‘em or Omaha, is one of the many poker variations that make for exciting gameplay. It shares similarities with Texas hold ‘em, especially in terms of betting streets and card ranking.

But Omaha has one striking difference from the more popular Texas hold ‘em. In an Omaha game, you are dealt with four hole cards instead of two. In order to win, you must use exactly two of your hole cards along with three of the community cards—no more, no less—to make a five-card poker hand. The player with the highest hand wins the game.

By having more hole cards, making better hands in Omaha is significantly easier. And with many chances to deal a flush or a full house, the poker variant generates a lot of action. But this does not exactly mean that the poker variant is an easy game overall. So to help you increase your chances of winning, check these Omaha poker tips:

1 | Be Patient with Your Starting Hand

A common mistake you and other players may do when playing Omaha poker is to think that all hole cards are worth playing. You might receive cards that look excellent, such as those that make up four of a kind or a flush. However, these hands are useless because you can use only two hole cards.

The best starting hands have a big pair in them and a connectedness that allows them to improve pre-flop. Ideally, you would want to get a hand that is “double-suited”, giving you the chance to create two different flush draws. An example is if you get A♠-A♦-7♠-6♦ as your starting hand. Acquiring this hand means you have a chance of getting a full house or a flush if you get the desired combination during the flop.

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2 | Know When to Use Your Aces

Another misconception by Omaha gamers is that two aces guarantee a strong hand. While two aces can help form a strong pre-flop hand, they do not promise the jackpot. Even if you get an ace pair, you will lose if you have, say, 5 and 9. If you want to win with an ace pair, your flop cards should be AAQQ, AA99, and AAJJ, to mention a few.

Make sure to raise if you get four strong hole cards that include ace pairs. You would want to get value for your hand. Alternatively, do not hesitate to call if you get weaker aces. And if there is a lot of action pre-flop, you may even fold your hand. Chances are, the remaining two aces in the deck are gone, giving you less chance to get weak ace cards the second time.

3 | Play Aggressively

The best way to play Omaha poker is to play aggressively with a good hand. The best hands are usually played slowly, but this should not be the case with other hands. If you delay, chances are your opponents would be able to create their desired combination during the turn or river and gain the upper hand. Once you get a good combination of cards during the flop, do not hesitate to make a big bet to get a chance to win before your opponents do.

4 | Keep Your Cool

One of the most important things to remember when playing Omaha poker is that the game has high variance. This means that you can make a lot of money in a very short period. At the same time, you can also lose most of your player funds if Lady Luck is not on your side.

Because of the many upswings and downswings in the game, it is always crucial to keep a cool head at all times. If you feel your emotions taking over, take a deep breath, sit out for a while, and then come back to the poker room. By preparing yourself for the possibility of bad luck, you have fewer chances of playing badly the moment you do hit a losing streak.

5 | Play Omaha Poker for Fun

There is an old saying that claims “practice makes perfect”. These words apply to Omaha poker as well. Playing regularly will help you determine the best possible hands and what decisions to make more quickly. Of course, the best way to practice is by playing the demo version of the game in an online casino. That way, you do not have to risk your funds while familiarizing yourself with the gameplay. When you are ready, that is when you play with real money.

Omaha poker is an exciting game that gives you a chance to take home huge wins. With these tips, you can visit a poker table and play without losing your cool or losing your chance to play a winning hand. Test your Omaha poker skills now and play a round or two in your preferred online casino.