naked_eskimo
Two Pair
I've somewhat recently started playing Omaha with my group on my Poker Mavens server. We play NLO (one player refuses to switch to PLO--different discussion). I'd dabbled in Omaha in the past, but not enough to really get a feel for it. We've been playing it almost exclusively now two nights a week, NLO ring game, upwards of six players usually. I also started playing some micro stakes PLO on Pokerstars to get a feel for it beyond the same six opponents all the time.
What I was hoping to get out of this thread is just some general thoughts on how you play Omaha. No hand histories, no in depth player reads, etc. Just some general stuff:
Preflop Hand Selection:
I worry that I may be too tight in this regard. I tend to fold a lot, probably more than when playing Hold'em. I like to have four cards that work together, not just one good holdem hand with two stragglers, like for example, If I can flat with something like that, sure, but otherwise it's a muck candidate.
Small pairs: I've learned over the last couple of months that set mining with small pairs in Omaha is not as profitable as it is in Holdem. I now tend to fold hands like . I will play small pairs with suited connectors, like ..that sort of thing.
Aces: I find I don't win so very often with dry aces, something like Hands like that I will certainly play, but over hundreds of hands, I find they don't win very often. Which is a result, I imagine, of the fact that one pair hands just don't win very often in Omaha and unless you flop another ace, you're left with a one pair hand at showdown very often.
Kings: Feel pretty "meh" about pocket kings. Will flat if the other two cards are pure stragglers. Add in some straight and suitedness, and I will play them.
Wraps: For example, 56789 or TJQKA, ideally with some suitedness as well. Will play those in any position.
Tricky spots:
Flopping a set, particularly bottom set. I almost hate flopping a set in Omaha. I often end up folding them on the turn when a straight draw gets there or on the river when a flush comes in.
Board pairing. I HATE this. It must be a perception thing, but it seems the board pairs way more often when playing Omaha than Holdem. I understand that is not rational, but it feels that way. Board pairs are like the death knell for my made hands. I don't want to get too sticky with hands when the board pairs, but I don't wish to over fold either. It's always a tough call. And with so many two pair combinations, it seems that anytime the board pairs, someone has a full house. Bye bye to my made straight or flush.
Baby flushes: They do win sometimes, but I am almost always surprised when that happens. Not exactly confidence inspiring.
Those are the highlights of my thoughts on playing Omaha so far, and at a very high level. I'm curious what sort of preflop hand selection criteria others may use and how you deal with tricky spots like sets, or strong made hands facing a paired turn or paired river. Stuff like that
Thank you.
What I was hoping to get out of this thread is just some general thoughts on how you play Omaha. No hand histories, no in depth player reads, etc. Just some general stuff:
Preflop Hand Selection:
I worry that I may be too tight in this regard. I tend to fold a lot, probably more than when playing Hold'em. I like to have four cards that work together, not just one good holdem hand with two stragglers, like for example, If I can flat with something like that, sure, but otherwise it's a muck candidate.
Small pairs: I've learned over the last couple of months that set mining with small pairs in Omaha is not as profitable as it is in Holdem. I now tend to fold hands like . I will play small pairs with suited connectors, like ..that sort of thing.
Aces: I find I don't win so very often with dry aces, something like Hands like that I will certainly play, but over hundreds of hands, I find they don't win very often. Which is a result, I imagine, of the fact that one pair hands just don't win very often in Omaha and unless you flop another ace, you're left with a one pair hand at showdown very often.
Kings: Feel pretty "meh" about pocket kings. Will flat if the other two cards are pure stragglers. Add in some straight and suitedness, and I will play them.
Wraps: For example, 56789 or TJQKA, ideally with some suitedness as well. Will play those in any position.
Tricky spots:
Flopping a set, particularly bottom set. I almost hate flopping a set in Omaha. I often end up folding them on the turn when a straight draw gets there or on the river when a flush comes in.
Board pairing. I HATE this. It must be a perception thing, but it seems the board pairs way more often when playing Omaha than Holdem. I understand that is not rational, but it feels that way. Board pairs are like the death knell for my made hands. I don't want to get too sticky with hands when the board pairs, but I don't wish to over fold either. It's always a tough call. And with so many two pair combinations, it seems that anytime the board pairs, someone has a full house. Bye bye to my made straight or flush.
Baby flushes: They do win sometimes, but I am almost always surprised when that happens. Not exactly confidence inspiring.
Those are the highlights of my thoughts on playing Omaha so far, and at a very high level. I'm curious what sort of preflop hand selection criteria others may use and how you deal with tricky spots like sets, or strong made hands facing a paired turn or paired river. Stuff like that
Thank you.
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