Omaha Myths

  Like everything else in life, there are myths attached to poker. Granted, these myths do not include tails of tall, hairy, apes running around the forests of Northern California, or pre-historic sea creatures splashing about in Scottish lakes, scaring picnickers and drinking all their Yoohoo. Poker myths are less enigmatic and have more to do with how the game is played.  In this article we will be focusing on myths of Omaha. This is not some obscure story about how Benny Binion will someday return in the city of Omaha, this is about the game.  The first myth is that Omaha is a complicated game. Okay, there is a learning curve for anything you do, but this isnt rocket science. Omaha itself is actually much simpler then Texas Holdem. Today you cant swing a dead chicken without hitting somebody who plays Holdem. If you can play that game, Omaha will be no problem for you.  The next myth is that Omaha starting hands run close together in value. The person telling you this story probably is sitting at the same table with you and having trouble keeping a straight face while you soak in this new information. In Holdem the AA is the Grand Poobah of starting hands. It is true the Omaha has no true equivalent to this dominating pair, but this doesnt mean all starting hands in Omaha are equal. A23K is head and shoulders above J965 as a starting hand. Remember, in Omaha there are excellent starting hands, good ones, a few questionable ones, and then there are the hands that have about as much clout as confederate currency or a Members Only jacket.  Myth number three is the idea that you should not raise before the flop. Omaha is all about the starting hand. Unless you can travel through time and space, the starting hand happens before the flop. Logically than, you will raise after the starting hand, which happens before the flop. This myth was probably first uttered by somebody whos only mastery over a card game involved the words go fish.  I have listed the top three myths, there are of course many more. Be aware that not everything you hear is true. Urban myth is as alive in card games as it is on the movie screen.