Omaha Strategies

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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 well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.

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

This is where a number of players get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use precisely three cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in almost every poker game.

The low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the worst 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 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.

Although it seems complicated at the outset, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha Hi-Lo offers an amazing range of wagering possibilities and because you have several players trying for the high, and several trying for the low hand. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi/low.