Poker Plays with PokerPeaker – Playing an Omaha Hand like Hold’em

May 8, 2009
Contributed by: PokerPeaker

I have K-K-10-3 single suited.

A very aggressive player raises (he had Q-Q-8-2, don't reveal that) and bets the pot on the flop, $1.85. He has like $135.

I call, which is a bad play. I need to raise here.

Flop 8-3-5.

You can play Omaha passively, unlike Hold 'Em, and be a winning player. But in this case I needed to treat this like a Hold 'Em hand. I needed to raise him right there.

It's possible he would have called.

He bet on the turn—an 8. It’s hard to put him on an 8, but this is Omaha and there are so many hands he could have, he probably has it, and I didn't raise, so he can bet there.

A raise might have slowed him down even if he hit the 8, and if he does bet out after calling my raise, out of position, I can probably fold with confidence.

He bets the pot, I call, then $6 on the river and I call. Blech. He shows an 8. Q-Q-8-3.

A lot of players would curse their bad luck in this case. It's true I was unlucky, and I've been a little unlucky lately. But I let him get lucky. A lot of times that's really what happens in poker.

January 2, 2008

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One of the key principles in NLHE tournament poker, that everyone should apply to their game, is to RAISE whenever you are first to act, ESPECIALLY if you are in middle position or later, and ESPECIALLY once the dead money (antes/blinds) is significant. There are good reasons to limp in early position when the money is deep but this is about the only exception that should be made. Applying this simple principle can have a dramatic effect (and subsequent improvement on your game). It seems simple, but this rule actually goes to the very heart of tight/aggressive play. Read more

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