January 22, 2004
Learning New Games
by Staff
It's tough to learn a new game.
I remember when I was learning to play hold'em. I was stuck a good amount playing hold'em online, and so I decided to intensely studying the game. It was scary. Not only was there money on the line, but excelling at games is what I do best. If I failed, it would be quite a blow to my ego.
I'm trying to learn Omaha Hi/Lo. I'm reading Zee's text from 2+2 on the game. But I definitely still haven't figured it out. I'm playing OK pre-flop, but my turn and river calls are terrible.
It seems like a tough game to get into (aren't they all), but like it has alot of profit potential. I'll keep y'all updated.
Zee's book is good, but the best beginner's book I've found is Cappelletti's book "How To Win At Onaha High-Low Poker".
I can't figure that game out either.
Try Omaha Hold'em Poker, by Bob Ciaffone.
The Zee book is excellent, but it doesn't say 'for advanced players' for no reason at all, lol.
Felicia :)
It's the same game, CJ, but you play it by yourself.
I played it a good bit with play chips starting out and there seem to be a LOT of people chasing all the way, so if the cash games are similar (????) I see how it could be very profitable. I don't particularly care for Omaha because I seem to always be one of the people chasing all the way to the river. : (
First off... the game is called Omahahahaha.
Here's how I play it, and I've been known to win a few tournaments as well. (http://www.pokerpages.com/tournament/result6524.htm) Although I am by no means a pro player.
Cards in Omha can be factored in three zones. A - 5, 6 - 9, and T - A. Bascially, anytime you have four cards in the middle zone, muck it. You basically want four cards that all work in the same zone, at the top or bottom end. As you get better at the game, you can switch this to three cards in the same zone as long as the fourth cards suits an Ace or a King. (Example, As 2h 4c 9s)
You also have to change your idea on what constitutes a good hand in Omaha. Good hands *START* wth flushes and get better from there. Rarely do straights hold up, and two pair is like having bottom pair in Hold em. The reason for this is that since there is a low aspect to the game, more people tend to stay in the pot. Further, everyone has 4 cards, so the chances of someone in the pot to have two suited cards when three suits hit the board is acutally quite high.
I tend to aggressively play hands drawing to the nut on eiither high or low, but play extra aggressively on ones that draw to the high and low. In Omaha, nothing really matters until you see the flop, so unless you have A23K double suited, don't consider you hand very valuable until you see the flop.
Once the flop hits, you must instantly figure out where you are at, and only chase when you have a first or second nut draws. And even then, you have to be extra careful with second nut hands. You have to be willing to put raises into the pot on a draw only. The game is a drawing game, you have to chase far more often than you may want, but you will get paid off in greater amounts than in Hold 'Em, so it offsets.
I know that's a bit vague, but maybe it'll start some conversation. I love Omaha/8 PLO. It's the best game ever invented!
