Differences between Texas and Omaha

[ychennay]

I know the logistics and I've played Omaha before... you're dealt 4 hole cards instead of 2, and you have to use 2 of your hole cards. But I can tell that Omaha HE is a different flavor from Texas HE,and I can't quite put the finger on exactly what. How are the two different beyond the rules? Does one game suit an aggressive/conservative player more/less? Which one requires more skill? And I know there isn't a definite answer but which one is better in your opinion?

[crack]

Well, the difference is that because you get 4 cards in Omaha rather than 2, you pretty much need a good hand to continue playing on the flop.

This is because there are now more combinations out there.

Someone is more likely to hit a big hand against your AAxx with a holding such as 8877ds (double suited)

Another big difference is it is not played in a NL style anymore.

It's difficult to say what requires more skill.

[aaronw]

Not that I play much Omaha, but I would say that Omaha takes more skill because there is never a huge edge PF as there is in hold'em. In hold'em you can wait for big starting hands or sets where you have a large edge over others before you put a lot of money in the pot. However, in Omaha there isn't any hand that is a massive favourite over any other hand. I think the biggest edge is 70/30 (I could be wrong though). I may be wrong with my thought process, but thats what I think.

[MrDarling]

I actually think in Omaha PF hand selection is even more important then in Holdem. Especially since most players tend to play every hand and hope to get lucky on the flop.
In Omaha TP is almost never the best hand. 2 pair is half decent and even a set is a vulnerable hand. Omaha is a game of Nuts.
You'd often see flush vs boat, str8 vs flush and even boat vs bigger boat...

I stay away from it until my BR can suffer the hugh swings..

[xDiamond_CutteRx]

I think Texas Hold'em almost unquestionably requires more skill, for several reasons:

1. It is hard to set up "trap" situations in Omaha because the nuts are out there way too often. Sophisticated moves are often wasted in Omaha (not to say they don't come up, but they come up way less often).
2. There are far more situations in Omaha where getting all your money in is correct, giving bad players a greater advantage in marginal situations.
3. Reading players is much harder in Omaha because every player has 6 combinations of hole cards and thus a much wider range of hands that could fit the board. In Texas Hold'em, the range is smaller and good players can often figure out an opponent's range of hands with far greater accuracy, giving the better players a higher advantage.

[Jefecaminador]

Omaha is for action junkies. Personally when I play, I'm in on about 60-70% of the hands. Its a game thats all about post flop play.

[MasterShake]

If I don't have the nuts or am not drawing to the nuts, I'm usually not in the hand.

[crack]

I think if you only play the nuts or drawing to the nuts at Omaha you are missing out on a LOT of value.

[MasterShake]

I think if you only play the nuts or drawing to the nuts at Omaha you are missing out on a LOT of value.

Not with the people I play with.

[crack]

Perhaps you should change the people you are playing with.