Omaha Strategies

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in popularity so quickly.

Omaha 8 or better starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further round of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering happens and then the river card is revealed. The players will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many entrants can get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

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

The lower hand is more complex, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out 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 do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

While it seems complex at first, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of the game with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha High-Low offers an exciting array of betting options and because you have numerous players trying for the high, and a few trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.