Omaha Strategy

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

Omaha/8 begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of wagering happens. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering follows at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where many players often get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

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

A low hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.

It may seem complex at the start, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha hi-low provides an exciting range of betting choices and because you have several players trying for the high, as well as a few battling for the low hand. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.