Omaha Strategy

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in popularity so quickly.

Omaha hi lo begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a few players can get baffled. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card 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 just what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in almost all poker games.

A lower hand is more complex, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because 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 8 and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem complex at first, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming range of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have numerous individuals shooting for the high hand, along with several battling for the low hand. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.