More and more people are getting into poker. Statista reveals that the online gaming market was worth a reported $61.5 billion in 2021. By 2028, it is forecasted to rise by 86%, bringing in a total of $114.4 billion worldwide. A few factors influence this growth, including increased access to poker games via mobile phones and computers, exciting bonuses offered by poker platforms, and the growing number of variants in the game. Omaha poker is among these variants that are popular among poker enthusiasts.
If you’re interested in seeing what’s so great about it, or simply want to learn how to play Omaha, keep reading below.
What is Omaha Poker?
Omaha Hold’em, better known as simply Omaha, is a type of poker game where players are dealt four cards instead of two. A post on how to play Omaha poker outlines how each player creates the best hand using their hole cards and the 5 community cards. What makes it different from your average Texas Hold’em game is that players are dealt 4 cards. From this, they will choose 2 cards to combine with 3 of the community cards. Usually, Omaha is played with 6 or 9 players, with the maximum number at 11.
This poker variant was brought into the poker industry by Robert Turner in 1982, a professional poker player and casino executive. He introduced it to fellow pro player Bill Boyd, who then offered it in the Las Vegas Golden Nugget Casino. Since then, Omaha poker has been a popular poker game.
How to win Omaha poker
To win this game, it’s important to note that players’ hands at the showdown must consist of exactly 2 hole cards and 3 community cards. Another difference Omaha has from Texas Hold’em is that players need 2 of a suit in their hand for a flush. For instance, if the community cards consist of KS 9S QS QH 5S, and a player’s hole cards are AS 2H 4H 5C, they will be unable to play a flush with the ace. This rule also applies to straights.
Aside from taking note of these rules, Omaha can be more challenging because of the endless possible hands that players can create. With that said, let’s move on to some helpful tips.
Omaha Poker Tips
First and foremost, make sure to pick the best hand at showdown. Because players are dealt with four cards, there are more combination options compared with variants like Texas Hold’em. However, players who memorize hand rankings are at an advantage since they’ll know the best combinations. With these in mind, there’s a bigger possibility of showing up with the best hand by the end of the game.
Another tip is to be mindful of opponents who put a large amount of money at stake. Bluffing is not so common in Omaha since a lot of cards have already been revealed. As such, when a player increases the amount they put at stake, it usually means that they have a great hand in possession. Knowing this, you can make better decisions such as choosing to fold.
Omaha poker is a game that has gained popularity over the years. By knowing its rules and following our tips, you’ll be a great Omaha player in no time. If you liked this guide, do check out our other articles here at Sound Genetics.