Omaha Strategies

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has expanded in popularity so quickly.

Omaha hi/lo starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of betting follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where many players get flustered. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same concept in nearly every poker game.

The lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might 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 worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.

Although it seems difficult at the outset, after a few rounds you will be able to get the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha Hi-Lo provides an exciting array of betting options and seeing that you have several players battling for the high, along with several trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.