June
7
Chip Burner, creator of Omaha Poker
While I was browsing for more info about Omaha Poker History, I found a great update to my previous Omaha Poker History post.
According to Wikipedia, creator of the game is Robert “Chip Burner” Turner. Back in 1983, he approached Bill Loyd, a director of operations at the Golden Nugget casino in Las Vegas and he simply loved it. Overnight, Golden Nugget started serious promotion of the new Hold’em Poker game, which was named Nugget Hold’em Poker.
How it changed the name from Nugget Hold’em to Omaha Hold’em is still a mistery.
May
7
This is where it all started...
Way back in 1811, first poker hands were played in saloons on the river banks of Mississippi. However, Omaha Poker came to the tables much, much later, and the only fact that everybody agrees on is - it has nothing to do with the city of Omaha, Nebraska. Till 1982, when the game is introduced in Las Vegas casinos, there was no mention of this kind of Hold’em game. Even respectful 20th century poker book authors do not describe it in their retrospectives.
However, upon its arrival, wast majority of poker players loved it on a first sight. No wonder why some players call it the Poker Game of the Future - it is very popular and it’s increasing in popularity every day!
Omaha poker is a dynamic game and it won’t pass long till you get your first straight, flush or full house - and, it will all happen on the flop! Instead of raising on your three of a kind, knowing that your opponent has a pair or two pair, which is common situation in Texas Hold’em Poker hand, even with the flush you won’t be peaceful. Specially if you see a pair in the community cards. You can see some interesting omaha poker hands in our poker hands section of the website.
Many poker players were reluctant to take a bite at Omaha thinking that the game is too easy. But it’s far from easy - try to play a freeroll on Full Tilt Poker and you’ll see for yourself. Your chips will disappear in 3 hands. Specially in process of discovering Omaha 8 (a.k.a. Omaha Hi/Lo).
So, in terms of history, there isn’t much to say. But, the future is bringing a different story. Soon, Omaha will be the most popular poker game on the world.
