Many modern players are interested in the question "What is the difference between Hold'em and Omaha?" This is not surprising, because the disciplines are very popular and easily collect tables for real money on the Internet. The first thing that comes to mind is the obvious fact that in Hold'em the starting hand consists of two cards, while in Omaha right away out of four... This is where the superficial differences end, and to answer the question, you need to dive deeper into the topic. Such information is of particular value for players who like to combine these disciplines, because after assimilating it, the likelihood of confusing something will be an order of magnitude less. 

Common features

It is best to start your analysis not by spotting differences, but by spotting the same trends. Hold'em and Omaha are very similar in nature and operate according to approximately the same rules: 

• Before the start of the trade, the participants in the distribution receive starting cards, after which two opponents post the small and big blind in the corresponding positions;
• Further, the trade is carried out on each of the four circles, while opponents can choose an action between folding, calling, checking and raising;
• The total pot goes to the player who either pushed other opponents out of the pot or showed the best combination at showdown;
• Both disciplines use the same combinatorics to determine the winner.

Major differences

There are not so many differences between Hold'em and Omaha. The main difference is mechanics of building a combination... In Texas Hold'em, you can use the entire starting hand and the board to make a winning hand, while in Omaha, you have two hole cards and three cards on the board to make a winning hand.

For clarity, we will give a simple example. Let's say you're playing Omaha and there are four suited cards on the board. Your hand contains a suited ace, but that doesn't mean you have a high flush. You can only use three cards on the board and two from the hand to make a combination, so it will be difficult to take the pot at showdown with a single ace. However, such a hand is good for bluffing, since opponent 100% does not have the first nuts in his hands and you have the opportunity to portray it and squeeze your opponent out of the pot.

The second important difference: in Omaha it is easier to make a high combination, because with 4 cards in hand, it becomes much easier to catch on the board. While in Texas Hold'em, four of four or a straight flush is a big event and a rarity, in Omaha it happens much more often. In addition, in this discipline, there can be a rare situation when a monster draw on the flop will have an equity advantage over a collected made hand.

The big difference between Hold'em and Omaha is the value of the starting hands. If in the first game, pocketing aces practically guarantees a win in the distribution, then in the second discipline it says little before the flop opens. In Omaha, a hand made preflop means almost nothing without a boost on the board, while in Hold'em a high pocket itself has a big chance of winning.

The final difference between Hold'em and Omaha is scales of mathematical variance... Professionals are well aware that when playing two cards, it is easy to encounter deviation in the form of upswings and downstreams, but four cards raise this level to exorbitant heights. Most all-in Omaha is a coin, where the equity between opponents is distributed 50-50 or 60-40. If you are going to connect your career with this game, be sure to prepare a deep bankroll and monitor your emotional stability. This is the only way you will be able to experience firsthand how Hold'em differs from Omaha, and at the same time not be left penniless due to variance.