Deitch on Poker: Omaha provides a nice change of pace
In these opening weeks of the poker column, weve been discussing almost exclusively Texas Hold em. Its time to broaden our horizons, for a good poker player is a versatile poker player. The fervor over Texas Hold ’em has matriculated into other poker games, and the one that has benefited the most from the overflow is Omaha.
Omaha has some similarities to Texas Hold ’em, but the ways in which it is different are substantial and require new layers of thought when it comes to hand judgment. The main similarity to Texas Hold ’em is that there is a three-card flop, a turn card and a river card, with the betting at the same junctures along the way. Whereas Hold ’em can be played as limit, pot-limit or no-limit, Omaha typically is played as a limit or pot-limit game. Another wrinkle in the game is Omaha Hi/Lo, which splits the pot between those with the high and a qualifying low hand (we’ll cover Omaha Hi/Lo next week).
Here is the big disparity between Omaha and Hold ’em: In Omaha, each player is dealt four cards, as opposed to the two you receive in Hold ’em. And unlike Hold ’em, you don’t have the option of using only one of your cards with the board. In Omaha you use two of your cards and three of the five cards on the board to make the best hand…
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- Poker, By Dennis Deitch: Knowing your odds gives you better shot
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- Aussie Millions, Event #10, $2,200 PLHE/Omaha/Omaha Hi-Lo: Michael Pesek Rolls to Win
- Deitch on Poker: Playing with short stack requires patience
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- WSOP Updates – Event #36, $5,000 Omaha Hi-Lo — Kirill Gerasimov Heads Omaha Pack
- Deitch on Poker: Trusting your reads can really pay off
- Deitch on Poker: Lawmakers off the mark with online poker
- The ‘Other’ Games of Poker: Pot Limit Omaha 8 or Better
Poker lingo:
- SET - In Hold'em, three of a kind where two of the cards are hole cards.
- RIVER - The last card dealt in a hand of stud or Hold'em.
- FLOP GAME - Any of a number of poker games where a flop is dealt.
- RIDER BACK (TM) - A brand of playing cards that feature a bicycle rider on the back of the cards. Often used in home games. Compare: BEE No. 92.
- BRODERICK CRAWFORD - In Hold'em, hole cards of 10-4. From the 1950s TV series "Highway Patrol", starring Broderick Crawford.
- LIVE BLIND - The last and largest blind bet may or may not be LIVE. If LIVE, the blind bettor has the option of "raising" his own blind in the event the bet is called around to him. This is normal, and is sometimes referred to as "blinds are live".
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