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 variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of betting follows where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting ensues and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of entrants get baffled. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in just about every poker game.

A low hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest being 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 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem difficult initially, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the basic nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an exciting range of betting choices and seeing that you have many individuals shooting for the high, and a few shooting for the low. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.