Poker Tips

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha/8 starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many players often get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in just about all poker games.

The low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the entire pot.

Although it seems difficult at the outset, following a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha High-Low offers an amazing collection of betting choices and seeing that you have several individuals trying for the high hand, and many trying for the low hand. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha/8.