Omaha Strategy

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha hi/lo starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where many players often get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use precisely three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same notion in just about all poker games.

A low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand takes the entire pot.

Although it seems complicated at first, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the base subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi/lo provides an exciting collection of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have several players battling for the high, along with many shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha hi low.