Omaha or Hold 'em Cash?

DOOOOG

Hi folks,

 I've spent most of my short poker career focussing on SNGs or MTTs of one kind or another but now I quite fancy investing some time in learning to play cash.

 I've spent a bit of time on NLHE and PLO and was wondering what people thought was the better option. There are more games in NLHE but there is also the view that PLO might be more lucrative as so many people grind hold em that it's difficult to get an edge.

 I suppose there is also the option to spend a bit of time on both, is that an option? Or is there a danger of being a jack of all trades etc.

  Anyway, thought it might be an interesting discussion. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Cheers,

Doug

p.s. I've added a poll for a bit of fun, but would like to hear people's views on the subject too.

Dumbmo

In Response to Omaha or Hold 'em Cash?:

Hi folks,  I've spent most of my short poker career focussing on SNGs or MTTs of one kind or another but now I quite fancy investing some time in learning to play cash.  I've spent a bit of time on NLHE and PLO and was wondering what people thought was the better option. There are more games in NLHE but there is also the view that PLO might be more lucrative as so many people grind hold em that it's difficult to get an edge.  I suppose there is also the option to spend a bit of time on both, is that an option? Or is there a danger of being a jack of all trades etc.   Anyway, thought it might be an interesting discussion. Thanks in advance for any advice! Cheers, Doug p.s. I've added a poll for a bit of fun, but would like to hear people's views on the subject too.
Posted by DOOOOG

If u brand new to both games and u actually wanna make a little bit of money then omaha is definately the way to go and your average recreational player at omaha is 10* worse than hold em. Jeff Hwangs book "the big play strategy" will definately make you a winning player at £10plo and below. Good luck.

Stu

IDONKCALLU

i disagree omaha is big swings u can lose 4 buy ins within a hour easily such high varince i would say play 10 nl hold em  unless u like a gamble then play plo 

Lambert180

Depends how good you are and how much money you got to spend, but I'd always recommend starting at the bottom, 4NL NLHE.

It's the cheapest way of learning if things go badly, it's by far the easiest level to beat, and despite what people say about 'bingo players at 4nl', there is an absolute mountain of things you need to learn about cash poker that you can learn at 4NL and will still be able to use even if you go on to play 100NL+

DOOOOG

Arrgh! Just wrote a big response bit wasn't logged in so lost the lot!

Anyways, to summarise - not that new to hold em, been playing a year or two with some gaps.

The main thing that draws me to cash is the lack of gamble i.e. not having to shove with air like you do in the late stages of an MTT or a SNG.

There does seem to be a lot less hold 'em info out there so might be a chance too get an edge.

Have got the Hwang book, will give it some more attention.

Is it really more gambley? Tikay seems a pretty risk averse player and he loves it!

diablo_pez

I'd try both and play the one (or both) you enjoy most. Simples.

Lambert180

In Response to Re: Omaha or Hold 'em Cash?:

Arrgh! Just wrote a big response bit wasn't logged in so lost the lot! Anyways, to summarise - not that new to hold em, been playing a year or two with some gaps. The main thing that draws me to cash is the lack of gamble i.e. not having to shove with air like you do in the late stages of an MTT or a SNG. There does seem to be a lot less hold 'em info out there so might be a chance too get an edge. Have got the Hwang book, will give it some more attention. Is it really more gambley? Tikay seems a pretty risk averse player and he loves it!
Posted by DOOOOG

The thing to remember, is it's a drawing game, so you're getting most of your value in Omaha on the flop and turn where people will still call to hit because they'll usually have lots of ways to improve (whether they're to improve to a winning hand is another matter).

It's not gambly as such, but it's higher variance. It's a flop game, so pre-flop you're never going to be that big a favourite against another random hand. It's not like Hold em where you could have AA and be 85% favourite, you're never gonna be anywhere close to that as a favourite preflop.

You want to always be playing to nut hands and spot which boards are dangerous. For instance if the flop is 456 with 2 hearts, and you have 78xx, and there's 2 others in the pot... there's a pretty decent chance 1 or both of them are drawing to a FH or a flush, or both. As Tikay says, there are times you can flop the nuts and have to fold the flop.

unknown_username

Which is more profitable? Omaha for certain. Which is easier to grind out with lower variance? Holdem. 

DOOOOG

Thanks folks, some good really analysis here.

I think I can probably stand the variance (hopefully) as I'm a recreational player, as long as the general equity trend is upward.

I might just invest some more time in Omaha and see if I like it, would be interesting to play a more flop based game too.

Cheers,
Doug

GreekWay

I will agree with what Patrick said.

There are so much money to be made on the Omaha tables. Omaha is swingy and of high variance for sure but I play a certain game where I am trying to minimise those.

If you are interested in Omaha I have written 2 blogs for begginers which you can find here:

Part 1: https://www.skypoker.com/secure/poker/sky_lobby?action=show_static&page=poker_community_blog&plckBlogId=Blog:984622ff-5ae6-4357-a087-da942593ca53&plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&userId=984622ff-5ae6-4357-a087-da942593ca53&plckPostId=Blog%3a984622ff-5ae6-4357-a087-da942593ca53Post%3a59e3d803-95b5-44f6-8b71-0a5177ebf6f0&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

Part 2: https://www.skypoker.com/secure/poker/sky_lobby?action=show_static&page=poker_community_blog&plckBlogId=Blog:984622ff-5ae6-4357-a087-da942593ca53&plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&userId=984622ff-5ae6-4357-a087-da942593ca53&plckPostId=Blog%3a984622ff-5ae6-4357-a087-da942593ca53Post%3a771e4f58-fc31-4d66-8a7a-110292ad606c&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

Omaha can be frustrating and exciting in seconds. As I have wriiten in my blog "If you are prone to tilt you should never play Omaha".

If you have any other questions please feel free to ask.

George

percival09

is there tons of money to be made at Omaha? Yes.

is there tons of money to be made at Hold'Em? Yes.

Even more so on Sky? Yes

DOOOOG

Cheers George, nice bloggage. I read them when they first came out and was very impressed, will definitely give them another read as a refresher too.

Cheers,
Doug