These ten tips have helped Texas Hold ‘Em players move as quickly as they can from that game to Omaha. These aren’t going to replace actual experience, but they can go a lot towards making your game better, faster.
#1 Be very selective with your starting hands. Nothing is more important than making sure that you choose the right starting hand for the right situation. Factors like position and your opposition contribute to what you’ll play and what you’ll fold.
#2 Starting table selection is key. Only play in games where you have an edge. You’ll want to make sure there are at least a couple of weak players at the table when you sit down.
#3 Play the players and be sure to assess your competition. Who plays the inferior hands? Who folds when they’re bet to? Who bets with draws? Watch your opponents and you’ll be able to put them on a hand more easily.
#4 Pump or dump. If you’ve got the cards, bet/raise if you have the odds, otherwise fold. Avoid calling unless you’ve got a good reason, such as you’re slow-playing and want to get better pot odds.
#5 Respect most big bets and raises. Texas Hold ’em is a game rife with bluffing. Omaha generally isn’t.
#6 Do not get “married” to an eight-way straight draw… even if you really, really like what you’re holding. In Omaha, it’s possible to get 13-way, 17-way and even 20-way straight draws on the flop It’s best to wait until you hold a more robust straight draw before you heavily involve yourself in the pot.
#7 Likewise, do not get “married” to the nut flush draw. In hold ’em, you can usual win the pot by pairing your ace or win the pot with a flush even when the board pairs. That’s not true in Omaha.
#8 Don’t overplay unsuited aces. If you’re holding AA and two unsuited and unconnected rags, the flop is really not likely to improve your hand. If you don’t flop an ace, it’s very unlikely that you’ll win the hand.
#9 Bet on the best drawing hands. By doing this, you make your game much more unpredictable and you’ll also win more pots without a fight, especially if you’re in early position.
#10 Always draw to the nuts when you’re in a multi-way pot. When all of the money goes into the middle on a pot with more than two other players, be sure to draw to the nuts. Avoid committing all your money when you’re holding a draw without additional value — you can find yourself trapped between a set and the nut-flush draw. This could leave you with only a nut straight draw that might end up in a split pot if your hand hits.
Before you start playing Pot Limit Omaha, take the time to understand each of these tips and how you can best execute them in relation to your game. I recommend starting off with lower-stakes games and playing tight before you start getting fancy with your play.