Omaha Strategy

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently 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 play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha hi/low starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some entrants can get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize exactly 3 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 might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

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

A low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem complex at first, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 offers an amazing collection of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have many players battling for the high hand, as well as many shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.