Omaha making solid folds
Monday November, 23rd 2009 by fullhouseThe ability to make a solid fold is more important in Omaha than any other type of poker. The fact that players are dealt four cards increases the likelihood of making a very strong hand, the problem is that it also increases the odds that your opponent has a very strong hand as well. It is amazing how many times a player will lose with the second nuts in Omaha, and the crazy thing is that they are rarely even considered bad beats. To be honest there is seldom a bad beat in Omaha; it is simply the wild nature of the game that will force players to lose with all types of monster hands. Any successful Omaha player will possess the ability to make huge folds on a regular basis. You would be a moron if you folded the second nuts in Hold’em on any type of regular basis, but you will be a moron if you don’t fold the second nuts fairly often in Omaha. Hand reading can become incredibly difficult in Omaha, and this is why making a solid fold is so challenging. The best Omaha players read hands incredibly well and as a result they are able to make solid folds.
Hand reading
While hand reading is certainly difficult in Omaha, it is far from impossible. A bit of reasoning and common sense will go a long way when trying to put your opponent on a reasonable hand. Omaha is unique because you will need to consider what is essentially two different types of hands into your opponent’s range. It is rather common that you will be all in against both two pair and a flush draw. So which hand do you judge your hand against? Well, both. This is why Omaha is so incredibly complex. There is no guidelines that can be followed for hand reading in Omaha, it is something that only experience will teach. What will help is a willingness to carefully dissect each element of a hand. Omaha is no different from Hold’em or Stud in that common sense will often allow you to come to the best decision. Did the other player re raise pre flop and then bet pot on the flop? Maybe they then check raised the turn. This should be sufficient data when trying to put them on a hand, the odds are that they are quite strong. The next step is to try and connect the board with what you are holding and then what they could possibly have. It is simple observation that will allow you to deduce what your opponent is likely holding. If you have a set on a pair board you can safely assume that they don’t have quads or a better full house. If the board makes a flush possible you should be giving the other player credit for a flush if they continue to bet out, especially if you are only holding the queen or king high variety. The number one key to laying down a strong hand in Omaha is understanding what your opponent would be willing to invest money with. If you had the third nuts would you be putting all of your money in the middle? Probably not, and neither will your opponent.