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 well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha/8 begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. Once all the players have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where some players get confused. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in almost every poker game.

The lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst 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 smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.

While it seems complex at first, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of the game simply enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming collection of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have many players battling for the high hand, along with many battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.