Will Omaha Ever Take Over?

Graham · Feb 24,2009, 01:09 PM

I have been wondering a lot lately if we could eventually see Omaha games being more popular than Texas Holdem and the tournaments adjusted accordingly (ie. WSOP Final in Omaha instead of Holdem). What do you think? It just seems like so many more people are playing Omaha nowadays. All the big NLHE tourney players are usually sitting in Omaha cash games now.

compuease · Feb 24,2009, 01:37 PM

It would have to make a huge impact on the live poker scene first, then to television to really make an impact.. Not only that I think that the $$$ would dry up a lot quicker as the poor players go broke much quicker in Omaha... Still very little in Vegas..

Milo · Feb 24,2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compuease

It would have to make a huge impact on the live poker scene first, then to television to really make an impact.. Not only that I think that the $$$ would dry up a lot quicker as the poor players go broke much quicker in Omaha.

+1 to this idea. Also the Main Event will be contested via Hold 'Em forever. The only possible change would be if they went to using the $50k HORSE event to crown the World Champeen. But I see that as unlikely.

Graham · Feb 24,2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milo

+1 to this idea. Also the Main Event will be contested via Hold 'Em forever. The only possible change would be if they went to using the $50k HORSE event to crown the World Champeen. But I see that as unlikely.

Really that would make more sense. To be the world's best poker player (which the WSOP basically does) means you should be able to play more than just texas holdem.

Milo · Feb 24,2009, 02:29 PM

Agreed, but who tells Hellmuth?

compuease · Feb 24,2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milo

Agreed, but who tells Hellmuth?

+1 Flip(out)aments anyone?

kingkao86 · Feb 24,2009, 08:59 PM

I do not think it will ever happen. The beauty of hold 'em is the ease of learning the rules to the game. Omaha is a harder game to learn and harder for people to follow on TV because of all the cards, all the possibilities, and such.

JohnnieH · Feb 24,2009, 09:40 PM

Omaha doesn't make for good TV viewing. It's to complex and the varience is ridiculous.

Graham · Feb 24,2009, 09:57 PM

Ya, that is a good point about the TV stuff... I guess holdem is better because it is more dumbed down for the average viewer... 4 cards is confusing to follow.

schabs · Feb 25,2009, 12:59 AM

I would love to see Omaha become bigger via online and live. Why can't there be an Omaha ME as well as Holdem. Omaha creates so much action, although I do get abit inpatience now with Holdem. Regardless more Omaha tournies would be excellent.

BB King (Bad Beat King) · Feb 26,2009, 02:04 AM

The only tournament action I've seen that includes Omaha was a WSOP HORSE tourney, and I really enjoyed it. Getting a chance to see the pros play games like Razz, Omaha, etc. was a hoot.

I don't think it would take too much to educate the Hold'em watching crowds to enjoy and understand the extra complexity involved in Omaha.

I'd like to see some of the lesser known games like Badugi being played on TV by the pros. I wonder if any of them play it.