Omaha Strategy

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has grown in popularity so quickly.

Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a few entrants often get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

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

The low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest value 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 lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.

It may seem complicated at the start, following a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the base 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 being used at once, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming array of betting choices and seeing that you have many players trying for the high, along with several battling for the low. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha hi/low.