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 difficult but popular poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where some players get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same concept in almost all poker games.

A lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.

It may seem difficult at first, following a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi lo provides an overwhelming collection of wagering options and seeing that you have numerous individuals trying for the high hand, and many trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha hi/low.