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Dec 30th, 2008 | By admin | Category: Omaha

Omaha 8 or better is a poker game variant often plagued with myths and misconceptions.  The game is quite strange.  Although it has similarities with Texas Hold’em, it has its own features that differentiate it.  At first, playing Omaha seems complicated, but if you play properly, you will find that the game is actually simple.  Although there are many card combinations, players can still calculate their odds by paying attention to not just their hands but also their opponent’s.  There are also times when players often underestimate or overestimate the value of their cards.

The Connecting Cards

One of the mistakes in Omaha 8/b is when players underestimate the value of connecting cards.  Hands such as KQJT are taken for granted by most players.  They assume that this hand is weak but is actually the contrary.  If a player flops these hands well, it eliminates the possibility of having a low.  When there is a no low, the highest hand gets everything.  This gives the hand a high value due to its scooping potential.  Players shouldn’t just be focusing on winning half of the pot, but getting it all.

The Hands

Hands in Omaha that have the big potential to scoop are those with a two way potential and those that have high potential.  High straight cards are optimal because players are rare to get trapped in.  Getting quartered can lose you a lot of money.  They are easy to get away with from the flop as long as the player has a pair that he can throw if there are any low cards.  Players who aim to scoop all of the pot will find these cards valuable.  They can be played at any position with a raise.

The key here is to pick the right hole cards to play with.  There are no wild cards in Omaha which means that you have to make sure you should play the hand that will most likely get you the nuts.  Players should do their best to score not just half of the pot but all of it.  Its either you make the highest hand or run the risk of getting quartered with a low hand.  Players who flop well with connecting cards will find them valuable.  Omaha 8/b is mostly a mathematical game.  Play with the right cards and the chances of winning at Omaha will increase.  As long as it is done properly, the game will become simple and profitable.

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