Omaha High Poker Strategy

Omaha poker comes from the popularity of Texas Hold’em poker. Each player gets 4 pocket cards to use. Then come the community cards. First is the Flop with 3 cards, followed by the Turn with a fourth card, and finally the River with a fifth card. Players must use 2 of their pocket cards and 3 community cards to make the best 5-card hand. Learning Omaha might seem tricky at first, but once you understand the hand rankings and betting, it becomes fun. The betting and pot rules vary between Pot-Limit Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo, but the basic rules and mechanics are the same. Experience the excitement of wagering strategies and quick decision-making by playing Omaha poker at BLITZPOKER!

Omaha High Poker Strategy

Omaha High Poker Strategy is essential for mastering this dynamic and complex poker variant. Unlike Texas Hold’em, Omaha High involves more strategic depth due to the increased number of potential hands and draws. This makes understanding key strategies crucial for success. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, these Omaha High Poker Strategies will help you navigate the intricate world of PLO with more confidence. Let’s focus on the key aspects of Omaha High Poker play, from starting hands to using your position effectively.

1) Do Not Overvalue Your Starting Hands

One of the biggest mistakes in Pot Limit Omaha is overvaluing starting hands, like K-K-x-x. In Omaha-Hi, big pocket pairs are much weaker than in Hold’em. In Hold’em, Pocket Kings are the second-best starting hand. Check the list of best hands in PLO that we have provided below, and you might be surprised to see that (K-K) ranks eighth, and that’s when they are double-suited with Q-Q kickers.

Omaha is a drawing game. A lone pair of Aces won’t be enough.

Here’s the Top Ten list of Best Starting Hands:

• A A K K – Double-suited
• A A J 10 – Double-suited
• A A Q Q – Double-suited
• A A J J – Double-suited
• A A 10 10 – Double-suited
• A A 9 9 – Double-suited
• J 10 9 8 – Double-suited
• K K Q Q – Double-suited
• K Q J 10 – Double-suited
• K K J J – Double-suited

Many PLO fans can’t fold Aces, no matter what. They play them from any position to the river, no matter the consequences. But not all Aces are equal. Aces are a big hand in many poker forms, including Omaha. Look for Aces paired with cards that can make straights or flushes. This way, if you don’t hit a set, you can still draw to a winning hand.

If you’re in a multi-way pot on a board like 10♠️-8♥️-5♦️-4♣️, and all you have are Aces, you must consider folding that hand.

2) Leverage the Strength Of Wraps

Drawing hands in PLO helps you dominate the game. Special draws, called “wraps,” are what Omaha-Hi players love.

What are “wrap hands”?

For example, a starting hand like 10-9-6-5 on a flop of 8-7-3 rainbow has more outs than a common Hold’em straight draw. There are 20 cards that can make this player’s straight.

Here’s how it breaks down:

• 4 x Fours = 4 outs for an 8-high straight
• 3 x Fives = 3 outs for a 9-high straight
• 3 x Sixes = 4 outs for a 10-high straight
• 3 x Nines = 4 outs for a 10-high straight
• 3 x Tens = 4 outs for a 10-high straight
• 3 x Jacks = 4 outs for a Jack-high straight

A wrap means a player has a straight that is “wrapped around” at both ends. Some wrap hands have fewer outs than the example but can still be very strong, especially against a single pair or two pairs.

Here are some starting wrap hands and their outs:

Be careful when a flush draw is possible. In multi-way pots on a flushed board, someone will likely have that draw.

Drawing to the top end of a straight hand is considered the best thing to do. Small wrap draw hands like 5-6-7-8 are risky. A turned 7-high nut-straight can be outdrawn on the river if a 9 or 10 falls.

3) Leveraging Your Position in PLO

In PLO, you can use your position in two main ways: to build a pot and to control a pot. Mastering both will help you build your bankroll while managing the swings.

Building a Pot

When you flop a 20-out wrap draw, you want to get as many chips into the pot as possible. At this stage, you are ahead of almost any hand. The more money in the pot, the better.

If you’re out of position against a big bettor, use check-raise. In position with a big draw, a pot-raise is very effective.

Controlling a Pot

It’s easier to control the pot size when you’re in position. On draw-heavy boards, your early position opponent might be looking to check-raise you. Don’t fall for it. Take the free turn card to see if your hand improves or if theirs doesn’t. If you turn a set, their draw is far behind.

Out-of-position play is trickier. On a dry board, no need to bet the pot. Some players will call with middle pair or 3 cards to a draw, hoping to hit something.

Watch out for these passive players. They can take your whole stack with a weak two pair on the river. They likely won’t fold to your bet, but they won’t raise either. If they don’t make a second pair, you get paid off. If they do make a weak two pair, they won’t bet it, and you won’t lose more chips.

4) Handling Big Pairs

If you’ve had Aces cracked in No Limit Hold’em, get ready to see it happen often in PLO. Pocket pairs, even Aces and Kings, often lose in Omaha. With four starting cards and many straight and flush draw combinations, there are many ways Big Pairs can be beaten.

However, you can still win with Big Pockets. Start with premium big cards. Your Aces should be double-suited for nut-flush draws or paired with other big cards like K-Q-J-10 for Broadway draws. These kickers are valuable if you don’t flop a set or full house.

Pre-flop Omaha High Poker Strategy

Aces are powerful in PLO too. With strong Aces, you are expected to almost always 3bet or raise. This adds value to your hand and removes weaker hands from the pot. If you flop a strong draw, bet it. Ideally, your opponent will be on the same flush draw, but you’ll be drawing to the nuts.

With weaker Aces, when out of position, you can limp or call a small raise. If you flop a set, your opponents will be surprised. If there’s heavy pre-flop action, you might fold a hand like Ad-Ac-7s-2h. The remaining 2 Aces are likely dead, and unless you flop one, your hand is probably dead too.

Post-flop Omaha High Poker Strategy

Treat any draw-heavy flop carefully if you don’t connect with your Big Pair. If you are the one raising, you are not expected to always c-bet & build a big pot.

 This strategy differs from Hold’em. In multi-way pots, a board reading 8-7-3 likely means someone has 10-9 or 6-5.

Stay alert. PLO players can be crafty. If you think an opponent has an over-pair like you, take them on. A check raise might make them fold quickly.

In the end, PLO is a game of draws. If your premium Big Pairs don’t flop a draw, you should probably fold, check-fold, or leave the table.

5) Omaha Hi Poker Drawing Strategies

The rule of thumb for drawing in PLO is: The more opponents there are in a hand, the more you should be drawing to the nuts.

In Hold’em, you get two basic draws: flushes and straights. In Omaha, you get the same draws, but with four cards to choose from, the number of flushes and straights increases. The standard 9-out flush draws and 8-out straight draws are not enough.

For example, if you have a starting hand like 9♥️-8♠️-7♣️-6♦️ and the flop comes 4♦️-3♥️-6♥️, in Hold’em, a hand like 8d-7d would give you 8 outs to make your straight and another 7 outs to make the flush. That’s a total of 15 drawing outs.

In Pot Limit Omaha, you have any 4, 7, 8, or 9 to make the straight. Your straight outs are: 3 x Fours, 3 x Sevens, 3 x Eights, and 3 x Nines, totalling 13 outs. Plus, you have another 6 cards to make the flush. That’s a total of 19 drawing outs!

However, in multi-way pots, your flush is likely dead. Someone else probably has a better draw. Also, if a 7 turns and an 8 falls on the river, your straight could be beaten by a higher straight, like 10-9.

This drawing hand is strong once you make the straight, but be wary of bigger flush draws and cards that can counter your straight.