Omaha Strategy

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in popularity so quickly.

Omaha hi/low begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting ensues in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where some players get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical approach in just about every poker game.

The lower hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest being made up of 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 low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.

While it seems complicated initially, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of play with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming assortment of wagering options and seeing that you have many individuals battling for the high hand, as well as several trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.