Poker Strategy

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha/8 begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting follows 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 the point where many players often get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in just about every poker game.

The lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.

While it seems complicated at first, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the base subtleties of play with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming collection of wagering choices and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high, along with a few shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha hi/lo.