The casual observer would not likely see any immediate differences between Omaha and Texas Hold’em. They are both variants of the Hold'em game, and their rules are nearly indistinguishable. Although a regular Hold'em player will be able to jump into an Omaha game right away, there is more than what meets the eye for Pot Limit Omaha. Two games that are eerily similar and yet can't be further apart.
While Hold'em may still be the game of choice at the moment, we have reason to believe its counterpart will soon overtake it. As the online gaming scene is constantly evolving, people are looking for more fun and engaging games. With the changing times, so are the players' tastes, and most recently Omaha has been trending up as the game of choice.
Many players are naturally drawn to Pot Limit Omaha games for several reasons. As at times Omaha has been the busiest tables online, Hold'em players are becoming more open to testing out the Omaha waters. Another reason may be that operators have transformed their platforms to be more recreational friendly to adapt to the current state of the market. Recreational players tend to play games that are more fun, engaging, and convenient. They are also motivated to try learning new games. PLO has everything that recreationals want! While attracting the biggest crowds in recent times, waiting period for selecting games is non-existent, and as a result, games can be readily found. Another reason may be due to fact that recreationals will tend to look at more hands preflop due to more playable card combinations. This, in turn, leads to more postflop action and some exciting moments as more hands can be made. In addition, recreational players are more willing to call all-in bets since it is difficult to be a long way behind in PLO.
While the online PLO scene is catching on fire, live PLO cash games and tournaments are also becoming more popular than ever. This may also have a symbiotic effect on the overall Omaha scene. We believe players are becoming more enthusiastic and willing to accept new changes as new variants of Hold'em and spinoffs are becoming the trend. PLO might just be the next big hit.