Advanced Pot Limit Strategy – How to Master Omaha Poker
The increasing popularity of Pot Limit Omaha has resulted in many Texas Holdem players seeking to take part in Omaha games. Its important to know how to vary your approach to the game whether you are playing a tournament or a cash game. While some skills, such as reading, positing and hand values are similar to Texas Holdem each element in Omaha is unique.
Combining semi-bluffs and conservative hand strategy delivers maximum value to the hands of successful Omaha players. Proper hand selection in Omaha requires a combination of proper reads, discipline, patience and organization to your play. In Omaha you can see a growing number of flops allowing you to use any two (or four) cards as if they are in your hand. Since there are more players, the pots tend to be large. Having the strongest possible hand (“the nuts”) is frequently the best recipe to playing in multi-way pots.
When playing with a few players semi-bluffing the best hand can frequently allow you to win the pot outright, or indicate to you that another player is particularly strong. Since you are playing against more opening hands in Pot Limit Omaha, mastering of the game requires a number of advanced tactics that are not learned playing Texas Holdem.
Advanced Omaha Strategies
Getting pot values in Omaha by playing even more quality hands is a good idea. Players frequently will be overconfident in their hands opening up the possibility of drawing to other hands. Because other players are holding four hole cards keep in mind that a low flush is unlikely to hold. In Omaha, the best hand is Ace-Ace-King-King with two suited A-K’s then doubled suited J-T-A-A. Hence, looking at a straight or flush gives draw hands an even greater possible value in Omaha.
Entering more pots makes sense when you are holding high cards in Omaha. But remember you don’t want to be overconfident in low pairs or draws. Low draw hands may be of lower value than suited connectors are in traditional Holdem. Careful attention also must be paid to your position since the getting information from the other players necessitates you to be in a strong position to study factors involved in hand play. Since you are competing against a large number of players, temper your betting in the early position unless you are holding the best possible hand. Don’t over bet or remain in the pot on hope if you are only holding a marginally good hand. There will be later hands where you can wait out the flop.
A good semi-bluff strategy is to play strong when you have the best possible draw – for example if you’re drawing to the Ace flush, or a high straight then you may want to build the pot in multiple ways. This aggression also gives you a chance to win the pot when you miss your draw by making all of the other players fold. Therefore, drawing to the best hand can put you in a good position to outplay opponents consistently. When you have a decent, marginal hand you should always wait for another opportunity to deliver even better hands. Patience and selective aggression pay off in advanced Omaha strategies.
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