Omaha Poker may seem similar to Texas Holdem because it is played using five community cards; however, it is a very different type of poker game that requires a different strategy to be successful. Many people try to use a texas holdem strategy to play omaha poker, and they end up losing because of it.

In Omaha poker, you get four personal cards instead of two. Some players think that this gives them double the starting hand combinations, but in reality, the four cards give you six possible two card combinations. And because every other player at the table also has 6 possible starting combinations, you need to be even more selective when choosing your hand. Starting hands need to be coordinated.

This means that the four cards should work together such as having a straight possibility that may wrap around the flop. Double suited hands that contain aces are good for the nut flush however three or four cards of the same suit is a garbage hand in most instances as you diminish your flush possibilities. Here are some basic tips for playing a good omaha poker strategy.

How Omaha Poker Strategy Differs from Texas Holdem

Big pairs aren’t usually enough to win, unlike texas holdem hands. Omaha is a game of straights, Flushes and full houses. Raising from the far position will not get many players to fold, as would be the case with texas holdem. Raising early in the game won’t work because usually out of all the players that hold four cards, many of them will want to see the flop.

In Hold’em it is rare that a player will have the absolute Nuts after the river but in Omaha it is a common occurrence.

Since more players are staying to see the flop the pots can be very large in Omaha. Players will be getting correct odds to justify staying in a hand. This means there will be more bad beats in Omaha.