Omaha Strategy

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some entrants can get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

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

A low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.

It may seem difficult initially, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the basic nuances of play with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an exciting range of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have several players shooting for the high hand, along with several battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.