A New Game in Town

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August 31st, 2017
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My old Phoenix buddy, Russell Nelson, would probably like Omaha High; but that's because Nelson is a Certified Public Accountant and has a logical mind.

I took Nelson with me to Las Vegas some years ago when I was working for him in Phoenix, AZ. He was trying to promote one of the first 'smart cards' and I was writing publicity for him. In fact, he called the card, the Smart Card. It was the forerunner to today's cards which give cash back to users. It was Russell's first trip to Las Vegas and he wanted to see what the place was all about.

After watching me play Texas Hold'em, we climbed into the car for the ride back to the capital city. On the way back, he said Hold'em was a totally illogical game of chance and, 'I don't see how anyone would want to play it on a logical basis and hope to win. Just two cards to the player? My Lord, anybody could win!'

Omaha High, though, is a different game.

I am beginning to warm up to Omaha High, and so far, what I have seen of the game, I like.

It's less risky than Omaha High-Low, which happens to be one of my favorite poker games. The high hand wins everything, and you have more cards to play with.

'Omaha High,' said a poker professional, 'is a game of straights and flushes. It's basic, it's simple, it gives plenty of action, and it's fun to play.'

The premium starting hands in Omaha High are very different from Texas Hold'em, Omaha High-Low and all of the other card games. Medium connecting cards like j-10,9-8 or 9-8-7-6 are totally acceptable and powerful beginning hands. If you flop a straight in Omaha High, you will usually have a winner.

People who play Omaha watch for wraps. They realize that if they are dealt a 9-8-7-6 and the 9-8 are suited that they would much rather catch a straight than a flush.

While the river card in Omaha High-Low can usually devastate your hand, it isn't nearly as destructive as in Omaha High.

I have played a little Omaha High in the past and plan to continue the game when I get to Arizona and Nevada. I am sure Russell Nelson will approve of my choice.

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Give it a try and tell me what you think. Good luck. Let the games begin.

Here are the best ranking starting hands in Omaha High:

A-A-K-K double suited. This is a great starting hand.

A-A-J-10 double suited. Another hand with excellent possibilities after the flop.

A-A-Q-Q double suited. This hand, like the others, is difficult to beat if you flop it.

A-A-J-J double suited. Another hard-to-beat hand with the right flop.

A-A-10-10 double suited. This is a hand made for action.

A-A-9-9 double suited. Getting a little weak, but it is still hard to beat.

 

A-A-8-8 double suited. Wild Bill Hickok's 'dead man's hand,' but one to remember.

J-10-9-8 gives you a possible high straight.

K-K-Q-Q double suited, beatable but tough.

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