Omaha Poker - Can You Win With Aces?

  There are those who play the game of Omaha who believe that a pair of pocket aces is the kiss of death. Of course there are also folks who think that there is a large, aquatic dinosaur living in a Scottish lake. What both of these beliefs have in common is that both are myths and have no basis in any sort of rational reality.  The reason a lot of players have problems with their pocket aces, is that they play them in a too passive fashion. You cannot be reactionary with these cards, and sit around waiting for the play to come to you. The fact that each player is dealt four starting cards in Omaha opens up more possibilities. It also means there is a greater likelihood that a player has been dealt a high pair. Instead of being afraid of these cards, knowing that a pair is less likely to stand up in Omaha than it is in Texas Holdem, be aggressive with your hand. Double aces are a very strong hand to raise before the flop with.  2 aces remain a good place to start, and a player will want to protect that advantage by raising before the flop. Those who have hands with potential and not much else will probably drop off, and the fewer people you are playing your big pair against, the better your chances of winning. The longer you let players hang around, and see cards, the greater the likelihood that you will lose the edge that you initially had. This is especially true if the flop does not compliment your aces.  In the end, don't frown when pocket aces show up in your hand, play nasty. Make the flop a painful proposition for anyone staying in the hand. Your best chance to win is to limit the field and wind up head to head with another player.