Playing the Turn in Omaha Poker

Omaha
December 9 2008

If you’ve made it to the turn in a hand of Omaha you should be on the nut hand, drawing to it, or just had the nut hand before the turn card came. Once the turn card comes you need to decide where you stand. Do you still have the nut hand, or a draw to the nut hand? Unlike Holdem, when a card comes off in Omaha that could give an opponent a bigger hand you can be pretty sure someone has it.

If the board paired you could possibly be up against four of a kind, or more likely a full house. You’ll need to have a full house or trips to continue in the hand, and you should fold a small full house if there’s a lot of aggression from an opponent who may have a bigger one. The same sort of thinking goes into folding a straight or straight draw, if the board has three suited cards.

If you do have the nut hand you want to be aggressive. If you just hit the nut hand you should attempt a check-raise, if your position gives you the opportunity. If the previous aggressor is in position before you, and checks instead of betting again, you’ll have to bet out because it’s not as likely that an opponent after you will make a new bet. If you have the absolute nuts you can slow-play, and let your opponents catch up a bit, then bet or raise the river.

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Need a refresher? Find more Omaha Rules in the Bodog Poker Guide!