Poker enjoyed a huge boom in 2003, and has continued to grow in popularity worldwide. Most of the new players have been playing Texas Holdem variations of poker for the last five years. But once they play holdem long enough, they start to look at other variations of poker to break up the boredom. The natural progression is to play Omaha next. The rules are the same as holdem, other than the fact that you have four cards to play instead of two.

It’s been long enough into the poker boom now that many new poker players are expanding the versions of poker they play. Omaha action is on the rise both online and in live events. This year’s $1500 Pot Limit Omaha tournament at the WSOP had 758 entrants, compared to 158 entrants in 2006. Omaha hi/low split is also increasing in popularity, with tournament fields bigger than ever. 

1. When playing Omaha Hi/Low Split your starting hand selection should have high hand and low hand possibilities, or you should muck them.

2. When playing seven card stud make sure you can beat what your opponents are showing on the board. You can also look to see if your outs are already in play. That will make draw decisions a little easier.

3. Take advantage of the plentiful satellite tournament action available online. Getting into a big tournament via a cheap satellite can make you rich, just ask the last six WSOP champions.

4. Only play starting hands where both hole cards are eight or less when playing Razz. You need a base to build a good hand in this game, so start with good cards.

5. Don’t get drunk and play poker. The same goes for pot or any mind-altering drugs. Intoxication always leads to going broke.

The most common thing I see in novice Omaha players is calling with second-best hand. The game is very much like holdem, you just have to keep in mind that the nut hand is often out there. Calling or making bets with hands like a Queen-high flush or top two pair is not the way to win at Omaha.

In this game you want to have a nut hand when betting. The nuts can change quite easily at every street in Omaha, that’s why pot-limit is a better structure than a no-limit one. A player in the lead has to bet as much as possible to try and discourage the draw hands out there. Pot-limit limits the bet so other players can draw for better hands.

You should have the nut hand or be drawing to the nut hand, it’s that simple. And bluffing is rarely recommended in Omaha.