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 well-loved poker games. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha hi low starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where some players can get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same approach in nearly every poker game.

A lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem complicated at the start, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the base subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 provides an amazing range of wagering possibilities and because you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, along with many battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.