Omaha Strategy

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha 8 or better begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. After all the players have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting ensues and then the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where a few players can get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use precisely three cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in nearly every poker game.

A low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When deciding on 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 A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

While it seems complex initially, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming assortment of betting possibilities and because you have several individuals battling for the high, along with several shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha Hi-Lo.