O8, How do I get started????

AQheartbreak · #1 10-08-2003, 04:33 PM

I've been checking out the 5-10 w full kill omaha game at my local casino. I've always wanted to jump in, but i really don't know much of anything when it comes to o8. Where should I look to to get me on the right path. I'm a hold em player looking to expand my horizons. Sometimes the game is loose, sometimes its not. But when i see what they turn over sometimes, im boggled. I know what they have, but i dont understand the betting behind it all.. which really, is everything.
Thanks

crockpot · #2 10-08-2003, 05:48 PM

check out my website in my profile, which has a section on beginner's omaha concepts (starting out in omaha hi-lo).

my best advice is just to play very tight, draw only at the nuts, and leave if less than four people are seeing the flop on average, as a tight o/8 game isn't very profitable unless you are a good player.

check out ray zee's book High-Low Split for Advanced Players for advice on beating the game when it becomes tough.

DPCondit · #3 10-09-2003, 12:51 AM

Now I haven't checked out Crocksucker's website yet, (although now I feel obliged to do so), so I cannot comment on that.

I am a fan of the Wilson Turbo software, and I think it is good practice, and a great analytical tool. Although I am also a big fan of plain vanilla simulations like Poker Probe (Mike Caro), Poker Wiz (similar to poker probe) and janne Raevaara's Poker Calculator (a free java based simulator).

Shane Smith wrote a beginner's book on Omaha hi-lo, although I never found it very helpful. McEvoy and Cloutier wrote a Championship Omaha book, which is apparently not highly thought of by most here, but I still think it is good for tournaments. Ray Zee wrote High Low Split Poker for Advanced Players which is generally regarded as the best book on the subject (and actually contains two books in one, the other half dedicated to Stud 8). Ciaffone wrote Omaha Hold em Poker, and I love his writing, but the section on O8 is very small.

The best website I have seen is Steve Badger's www.playwinningpoker.com , which has a lot of Omaha tips for beginners, as well as those with more developed skills.

Good luck,
Don

tiltboy · #4 10-09-2003, 04:16 AM

In addition to the great advice provided by DPCondit, I would recommend a few other things.

Wilson Turbo Omaha/8 software (www.wilsonsw.com)

Bill Boston's book - It shows a results of thousands of simulations he ran on various O/8 hands.

Ed Hutchison's Omaha/8 point count system at http://ehutchison.homestead.com/OmahaSystem.html - I don't consult this anymore but when I first started playing I used this to help me figure out which hands were worth playing. I even wrote a VB program to allow me to enter my hole cards and quickly compute a Hutchison point count and a play recommendation.

spoody · #5 10-09-2003, 08:35 AM

O8B is a fun game, but usually the players playing in it are having NO fun. They all sit there all day, bitching at each other for a lukcy play, a stupid play, anything. It actually can get quite annoying when you take 3/4 of the pot and the guy who got quarterd starts yelling at you for raising on the turn because you scared off the 2 other players. (maybe a bad play, but I play my game, you play yours) I have not played in a ton of different games, but from what I understand most O8B games are pretty similar, a bunch of 50+ yr olds, sitting around, hating each other.

If you do sit down in that kind of game, thicken your skin, know that your A2 will get quartered a lot, and go for more high hands, since the old guys seem to just sit and wait for lock lows.

Spoody

chaos · #6 10-09-2003, 12:46 PM

As others have said, Ray Zees book is the bible. But it is for advanced players. I think Shane Smith's book is a good place to start.

You might also want to check out Annie Duke's advice on the Ultimate Bet website:
http://www.ultimatebet.com/community/duke.html

crockpot · #7 10-09-2003, 03:21 PM

this is a good point. if you are playing in a b&m and enjoy chatting with the other players, o8 is a terrible game. it seems to attract old people who don't like to talk.

by the way, in regard to AQ's signature line, i was playing a $5 tourney on UB the other night solely to let my friends watch me get pounded. in a string of four hands, i pushed all in with two AKs, one JJ and one 84o.

i was called on only the 84o. the guy showed 76o. i didn't even get the opportunity to draw out on a better hand. (we actually split when five high cards came on board.) at least my friends got a good show out of that hand.

what a game...

Kurn, son of Mogh · #8 10-17-2003, 12:55 PM

a bunch of 50+ yr olds

Where'd you find such a young Omaha game?

goodguy_1 · #9 10-17-2003, 03:42 PM

crock:
Wow dude.Never seen your website...very impressive.Best I have ever seen.Nice Job!!!

btw what the fock is going on with the Multi Poker affilate program?Any chance it is going to happen..Multi is my last hope ..it's the only room I havent signed up for.

crockpot · #10 10-17-2003, 08:11 PM

it's not looking good. i've sent them several emails asking about possibly signing up, but i think they've noticed they're coming from the same email address and are starting to ignore me.

thanks for your compliments, but if you really want to make me happy, go tell your friends about the site. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]