Omaha Secrets

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has grown in popularity so quickly.

Omaha hi/low begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where some players get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same notion in nearly 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 don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since 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 eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.

Although it seems complex initially, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an exciting range of betting options and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high, and many shooting for the low. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha/8.