Omaha Strategies

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has grown in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha hi/lo begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further round of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where some players often get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same concept in nearly all poker games.

The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem difficult initially, following a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing collection of betting possibilities and seeing that you have many players trying for the high, and a few battling for the low. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha hi/low.