Omaha/8 players only play 20 to 25% of the time.
However, especially at the lower limits, you will see 7 to 9 players seeing the
flop often. It is very important to not fall into the “well, everybody else
is doing it” mindset. Because everyone works with four cards, you must often
have the best possible hand to win. By playing too many hands you will find yourself
making second and third best hands and losing money with them.
Unlike
holdem, position is not one of the most important issues in selecting your starting
hands in Omaha/8. That is not to say that it is of no importance. It is still
better to act last because of the added information available to you. The reason
it is not as important as in holdem is because, as mentioned above, you often
need the best possible hand to win, and after seeing the flop you will have a
good idea of the chances of it happening as well as often having the correct pot
odds to draw to it if you need to.
In
holdem you only start with two cards so you have only one combination of two cards.
In Omaha you start with four cards that create six unique two-card combinations.
The best starting hands have all four cards working together. Hands that have
three cards working together and one that doesn’t (a dangler) are much weaker
than ones with all four working in conjunction
Here
is some specific advice about your starting hand selections. As you are learning
to play Omaha/8, I suggest only using the following hands. An x denotes any card
of any rank. A w denotes a wheel card (2, 3, 4 or 5). A t denotes a trump plus
the ten (T, J, Q, K).
1. A 2 x x
2. A 3 x x If the ace is suited to one of your other cards.
3. A w w x As
long as the two wheel cards are not the same)
4. w w w w Four wheel cards,
even if you have one pair, but not if you hold two pair or trips.
5. . A t
t t An ace with three high cards, especially if the ace is suited, is a strong
high hand.
6. t t t t Four high cards, even with a pair or two pair.
The above guidelines
are meant to be used while you are learning the
game. As you gain experience and learn your opponents
playing styles and hand selection, you will be able
to play a few more starting hands.
Hands with an A, 3
and two high cards are often playable as well as
hands containing an ace suited to one other card
that offer straight possibilities and some low potential
like Ah 4h 6c 8s.
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