Omaha Strategy

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha/8 begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of betting follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where a number of entrants get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize precisely three cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same notion in just about all poker games.

A low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not 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 lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the whole pot.

While it seems difficult at the start, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an amazing assortment of betting choices and because you have several individuals battling for the high hand, along with a few battling for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi/lo.