Poker Tips

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha 8 or better begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering follows where players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more round of wagering happens. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering ensues and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many players often get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in just about every poker game.

The lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.

While it seems difficult at the start, following a few hands you will be able to get the basic nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming range of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals trying for the high, and several shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi lo.