Explanation of the acronym OMC

OMC stands for “Old Man Coffee”. It is a slang nickname for a specific player type that you might meet in a live game. Opinions differ on exactly which characteristics constitute someone as being an OMC. But the general idea appears to be as follows.

1. An older gentleman (60+ years old).
2. Tight passive player.
3. Usually retired and mostly there to pass the time and socialise.

Naturally, with this sweeping stereotype, the exact characteristics might differ. The term is used primarily in live circles. It’s not something that the average online player uses or is even aware of. The term is generally used to describe player types in hands reviewed after the fact. You should never call a fellow poker player “old man coffee” to their face. 

Example of OMC used in a sentence -> We were dealt AKo in the big blind, and OMC on the button decided to limp in. 

OMC Poker Strategy

The first mistake here is potentially assuming that any older player is a tight-passive OMC. Ideally, it would be best if you observed all opponents for several orbits, rather than making sweeping generalisations based on their appearance. 

The primary trait of a legitimate OMC is that they are “tight passive”. They don’t play many hands preflop. They often prefer limping and calling rather than betting and raising. As such, it makes sense to steal pots often. But you should get out of the way when facing big bets and raises from an OMC. Guess what?They probably have it. 

Some debate exists over whether the average OMC is a winning player. Many think of them as players simply looking to lose the minimum with a tight approach to the game. Others believe their tight patient style generates a small positive winrate in the long run. Naturally, it depends on the exact player. Some are probably losing while others are winning.

What Does ‘OMC’ Stand for in Poker?

The term OMC stands for ‘old man coffee’. It’s an expression that live poker players use to describe an older gentleman with a tight passive style. The term could potentially be considered offensive so there is no real reason why it would ever need to be used at the poker tables. 

What Playing Style Does an OMC Use in Poker?

The classic playing style of an OMC (old man coffee) is ‘tight passive’. This means they don’t play a lot of hands preflop and don’t do a lot of raising postflop unless they have a monster holding. Having said this, the term OMC is relatively broad and non-specific. As a result it can potentially encompass a range of noticeably different playing styles. 

What is the Best Strategy Against an OMC in Poker?

Since OMCs (old man coffees) are quite passive we should usually give them a lot of respect when they start betting and raising aggressively since they probably have it. Since OMCs are relatively tight preflop we may also have some good blind stealing opportunities. OMCs are often risk averse so it may be possible to run some big bluffs postflop. However, we should also keep in mind that OMCs are not all the same and will have their own individual traits. 

Is it Ok to Call Someone ‘Old Man Coffee’ at the Poker Table?

The term ‘old man coffee’ may be considered offensive so it’s mostly reserved for discussing live poker hands after the action, perhaps with friends or as part of a study group. There is no real reason why the term ‘old man coffee’ should ever be used while actually at the poker tables.

See Also

Fish, LAG, TAG

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