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Omaha High Preflop

Some of the most important decisions that are made in a poker game are those decided on before the flop. It is here where you can make or break your bank roll with difficult decisions that are made based on minimal information. In every poker game where there is a flop; knowing the potential of your starting hands, and the way to play them is a critical aspect to master in order to be on the winning side. This is especially true in a game such as Omaha High where you receive four cards prior to the flop and every hand looks abundant with possibilities.

In order to play at the top of your game, you have to be confident in your decision making, and you must never second guess yourself. Every poker player will experience a time where even the right decision turns out to be a losing one, and a good player has the ability to keep playing that way knowing they are right. One needs to make sure to rationalize their choice prior to the flop, since this one determines whether or not you proceed on in the game.


It is hard for a beginner to lay down hands in Omaha High; however, this is by far the most vital trait of poker you can acquire. You need to realize that although any cards can flop, the chances that your mixed cards will come aren't as high as one would think. In order for a player to make the accurate decision, they need to know and understand a few important concepts.


Hand Potential
The real key in knowing what cards are bad and good in the preflop situation is being able to see the cards potential. In the game of Omaha High you are going to receive four cards to start of with, and then you have the possibility of seeing 5 more cards. You will only be able to play two of your cards, so make sure that when you're looking at your starting hand, you are already picking out which two card combinations of starting hands you want to make. It is easy to see the potential in a starting hand with two pair in it (even if its low pairs, it's important to play), but it is the hands with possible draws that win the big pots. Look for two sets of connecting cards, or two sets of suited cards, since this is a good starting hand as long as the bets are low. Also, if you have 2 or more high cards, and/or some sort of connecting or suited cards, it is wise to play this hand with low bets.


Players get dragged into flops in Omaha High because they tend to think that the flop will always hit at least a part of your hand. Although you have four cards to start of with, you still need to realize that there are many hands that look good, but aren't worth it to play. Seeing the potential is one aspect in deciding on a starting hand; however, the other half of whether you should play your hand depends on the current betting status.


Betting Status
When you first look down at your four cards they can look good, and it might be the right decision to play them if everyone checks, yet the whole choice making process must change when bets have been made. When a player makes a bet, you must determine the size of this bet compare to the regular bets that that player has been making all game. This gets into tells and reading players which will be explained in other articles, but it is obviously a general notion that a bigger bet represents a better hand (this is not always true). If the player has been playing tight all night, and he bets a large amount then you need to realize that he most likely has a good hand. If you haven't committed any money to the pot yet, then the wise decision in this situation is only to call the bet if your hand is a strong pair and possible straight or flush in multiple ways or two pair higher then 7.


In Omaha High, it is easy to think that if you call the bet and see the flop that your hand is destined to improve and your draws will be made. For all the beginner players out there, I recommend that you try and only play the strong draws and/or strong pairs if you are faced with a bet to call.


When to never call
It is crucial to remember that you can only play two of your four starting cards to make the best five card hand. This means that although they look good, three and four of a kinds are horrible, and if you have four cards of the same suit you should fold. The only exception to this is if you are in the blind and your opponents have checked all around since you can see a free flop. I know that this seems like an obvious strategy, but I have seen countless players raise before the flop because they thought that their three or four of a kind was one of the best hands.


Hopefully this article has help all you beginners out there to understand better the decision making that needs to be done in Omaha High. This article only talked about whether you should call or fold, but there is one more option and that is to raise/bet. Although this sounds very simple, the decision to raise/bet is very complex and there will be a whole separate article written just on it to help you understand. Good luck, and if you have any questions please feel free to contact me.


Resources
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