|
A majority of online poker players prefer and tend to stick with Texas Hold'em poker. However, most online poker rooms offer another variation of hold'em poker called Omaha.
The game of Omaha Hold'em deals out similar to Texas Hold'em, but with the players receiving four down cards instead of two. Players use their down cards and community cards to make the best hand possible much like they do when playing Texas Hold'em. The biggest rule change from Texas Hold'em is that a players' final hand MUST use two cards from among his/her down cards and three cards from the community cards. Thus you can't for example, make a flush hand using only one spade from your hand and four spades on the board since you must play two of your down cards in your final hand.
Some online poker rooms (like partypoker.com) offer variations on the game of Omaha, a 'normal' Omaha as well as high/low (8's or better) Omaha games. Omaha Hi-Lo is a split pot game where two winning hands split the pot, the highest hand and the lowest hand. A player may win both pots if they have the best high hand and the best low hand at the end of the round, and they may play different cards from their hand for each win. Low hands to 'qualify' as low hands must contain five cards that are eight or less in value. Because of the requirement in an Omaha game that three cards from the board must be played there will be times that a low hand can't be made by any player. As for example when there are not at least three cards on the board that are valued eight or less. In the event that a low hand cannot be made the entire pot goes to the high-hand winner.
If you're new to playing Omaha poker either regular and/or Omaha Hi-Lo, especially if you're a regular Texas Hold'em player, keep in mind the average hand is dramatically better in Omaha Hold'em than in Texas Hold'em. The additional hole cards each player receives make it easier for players to make winning hands. If the community cards show a pair there is much better chance of someone having a full house for example than in Texas Hold'em (depending on the number of players 'in' of course). It's not uncommon for those who play Texas Hold'em regularly to have difficulty in adjusting to what a 'good' hand is.
Omaha Hold'em poker is a lot of fun once you get the hang of it. The starting hands encourage betting and the extra hole cards make it worth staying in to see the flop.
|
