omaha poker vs no limit texas hold'em

when you start playing poker,is it better to master no limit holdem before going to omaha?
Is omaha more difficult to understand?
It's less popular but I've heard that it could be very profitable to experienced players.

play what you like, if you like Omaha better go ahead and play that. If you aren't sure play both for free to get a better idea.

you will never master holdem

For starting out, honestly I would play HE just for the simple fact that there is less to think about IMO. The starting hand requirements are a LOT more clear cut, and (like they say on TV) "takes seconds to learn, a lifetime to master."

GOD I LOVE POKER lol

Dustin Ranger

every form of poker can be profitable. but you should play what you're comfortable with. Swings can happen alot in omaha, as in nl, so maybe a limit game would be better for you

It depends on what kind of game you prefer. The reason why Omaha is (still) considered profitable is because people are playing the game without actually knowing how to play it (even though the same goes for Texas NLHE some people say that the profit rate is higher for Omaha), they think that one can make a hand with only one hole card, etc. I have played Omaha a couple of times and read a little about it, and I'd say a big difference is the maths, because when you play Omaha it feels like there are more factors and larger calculations to be done. I'd say that Omaha is more about playing the cards than playing the opponent. However, I'd start with Texas NLHE. Far more people play it, and I think it's easier to learn (but not to master).

There are certainly more fish to fry at NHLE than at Omaha. However if you can master Omaha, you can probably differentiate yourself more. Both games are fun. I would choose the game you like the most and play for enjoyment. If you go into poker looking to make a buck, you have probably chosen the wrong career. Only do what you enjoy.

I find there are less bad beats in Omaha than Texas Hold'em.

Great starting hands in Texas Hold’em can be and are frequently run down. With Omaha, if you practice good starting hand strategies and only bet aggressively your nut hands (always apparent at showdown), then you will have more fun IMHO.

I do not think it makes any difference what game you start playing first. The basics are all fairly easy to pick up.

I would try all types of poker, to see what you like and more important, are successful at.

The free rolls are a good place to start and learn. Costs nothing and you could win some money.

poker stars has the Astonomer freerolls. Most of the major games are catered for (Holdem, Stud, Omaha, Razz, Horse etc.) Players on the last eleven tables qualify for $2000 freerolls on Saturday or Sunday

Full Tilt has very good freerolls as well. They also have freerolls restricted to your country.

Those are the only sites I currently play on, but I’m sure others also have good freerolls.

There are many good posts here on Cardschat and the web in general, re strategies for all types of poker.

Good luck and above all else, have fun.

orchidra said:

I find there are less bad beats in Omaha than Texas Hold'em.

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This couldnt be farther from the truth!

RJB-7 said:

This couldnt be farther from the truth!

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Yes, if you are going to give the same value to your Omaha hands as you would your Texas Hold'em hands, then you are in big trouble. I expect Omaha players just love it when an experienced Texas Hold'em player joins their game for the first time. LOL.

I admit that Omaha is a game of busted hands and disappointments, but when you have the nut hand at showdown, you usually win big.

I have a lot more bad beats at Hold’em than Omaha. Maybe I’m more disciplined and patient at Omaha. Perhaps my problem at Hold'em, I value pocket aces too highly, preflop.

I repeat "I would try all types of poker, to see what you like". Important that you read the game strategies first.

I'd be keen to hear from you in a few months time as to which game you prefer. Please give us an update on your progress. And remember, the good people here at Cardschat are also available to help and offer encouragement.

The only way in which there aren't as many "bad beats" in omaha is that no hand is really ever an exorbitant favorite so if you really know what the odds are, you're not very often more than a 60:40.

However if you define a bad beat by how "strong" your hand is, i.e. a particular scenario, such as flopping top set and then being drawn out on, this is going to occur with a much higher frequency in omaha.

You can also see this through simple math. In hold'em your drawing opponnent has one hand. In omaha with 4 cards, he's got six hands. Therefore they have more combinations of ways to suck out on you.

I don't think it matters what you begin with. I mean, if you wanna play Omaha, play Omaha. You don't need to play Texas Hold'em prior learning Omaha. But I always suggest people to play Texas NLHE since that's the most played game, you have a lot easier to find tournaments in NLHE than for example Omaha PL Hi/Lo. And if you ever want to play at a casino or something, it's very difficult to find a game that is not HE.