Omaha Strategy

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting follows where players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a number of entrants can get confused. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in nearly all poker games.

The low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the complete pot.

Although it seems difficult at the start, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of play easily enough. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi/low offers an amazing collection of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have many players battling for the high hand, along with several shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.