Omaha Poker [Paperback]

Bob Ciaffone (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2006

"Omaha Poker" is a new edition of "Omaha Holdem Poker" under a more appropriate name. The entire book has been rewritten for better clarity and modern usage, with 20 new pages of valuable material added on the pot-limit Omaha high form of the game.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bob Ciaffone is a professional poker player, writer, and teacher. He has written four other poker books, and is a columnist for "Card Player" magazine. His favorite poker form is pot-limit Omaha high.

Product Details

• Paperback: 124 pages
• Publisher: Bob Ciaffone (May 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966100751
• ISBN-13: 978-0966100754
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #702,720 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely terrific!, May 30, 2006

By 

William J. Nicholas (Wilmington, Delaware) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Omaha Poker (Paperback)

As the poker craze continues to grow, it has amazed me that there are so few books on Omaha poker. This is why I was excited to receive the new edition of Bob Ciaffone's "Omaha Poker", expanded from the 1987 edition. It did not disappoint. In 124 pages, the author has covered Omaha masterfully.

It begins with the popularity and origins of Omaha and then goes on to betting structures and reading the board. He then asks the interesting question whether you should even learn Omaha, followed by differences and similarities with holdem.

Then there is a large section on general strategy for all Omaha games from opening hands to post-flop play. Quizzes which are fun are included. Limit Omaha High is covered in this section.

There follows a detailed description of Omaha Hi-Low. This happens to be my best game, and I was happy to see there is plenty of information, some of which was new to me. If you learn this section, I believe you can compete successfully in low and intermediate level games, even if you know nothing else about Omaha Hi-Low. Well okay, hours of experience are a must.

The next section is on Pot Limit Omaha, which the author has extensively expanded from the prior edition. I am a novice at this game, and I was particularly interested in it. Let's face it; this is big bet poker. You want to get it right. I thought the section was well written, concise and clear. Whether I can take it to the table and win, time will tell. So far, at low stakes, it goes well. But it is one tough game, and mistakes are very costly. I trust the author, and if worse comes worse, he is approachable over the Internet.

The final two sections are on tournament play and miscellaneous topics.

How can you go wrong with this book? It is terrific!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-Read., January 14, 2008

By 

Jeff Hwang - See all my reviews

This review is from: Omaha Poker (Paperback)

Bob Ciaffone's classic is a must-read for any player serious about learning to play Omaha proficiently. If the book seems a little light at first glance, just remember that it was originally written over two decades ago, and its place in poker literature is secure. I think the strength of the content will also surprise you a bit at times, as even seemingly mundane topics such as "Community Card Poker" and "Betting and Blind Structure" have surprising value.

Frankly, everything the man writes is golden. And coming from hold'em, this was the book that really changed the way I thought about Omaha and got me on the right track. For those familiar with my work, I should note that it was Bob's original section on the straight draws that I built upon.

For players new to Omaha, Bob Ciaffone's Omaha Poker is as good a place as any to start.

-- Jeff Hwang

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another thought-provoking poker book!, June 29, 2006

By 

DC "poker fan" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Omaha Poker (Paperback)

Bob Ciaffone has done it again. This time, he has presented a succinct and insightful guide to playing winning Omaha poker. Like most of the books he has written, the book is composed of short essays that deal with principles of thinking like a solid poker player, and considerations that a professional would make in playing a hand. This book presents guiding principles of how to play and think like an experienced poker player, as well as an analysis of specific starting hands and how they play with specific flops. This book is especially good if you are interested in learning how to play pot-limit Omaha High. It is not as detailed regarding Omaha Hi-Lo, but it is a decent introduction. As with most great poker books, the more experience you have playing, the more you will come to appreciate the lessons provided in this text.