Omaha Strategies

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a number of players can get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize precisely three cards from the board, and exactly two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

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

The low hand is more complex, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

Although it seems complicated initially, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of the game simply enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming assortment of wagering possibilities and because you have many players shooting for the high, as well as several shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.