Omaha 8 or Better, otherwise referred to as Omaha High/Low by some players, is possibly the most intricate and high-stakes poker game being played today. Consisting of element borrowed from
Omaha and then expanded with new rules, Omaha 8 or Better manages to turn an already complex poker game into an even more expansive and logistical game. As the popularity of Omaha and
Texas Holdem continue to grow with television shows and tournaments, Omaha 8 or Better grows as well. Don't let this introduction scare you away from Omaha 8 or Better though, even if you are new to poker. With some practice, 8 or Better is one of the most rewarding poker games being played due to it's inherent complexity.
Omaha 8 or Better Poker Rooms
The rules at their most basic are very similar to Omaha High. Each player is dealt four cards to begin with and the first betting round starts. Keep in mind that a player must use exactly two of their personal cards in this game. Each player has the option to bet, call, or fold their cards for every betting round. The dealer will then deal out the community cards, which are three face up cards that any player can use to create their five card hand. This is followed by a betting round and by another community card, called the fourth-street or the turn. Finally, after another betting round, the river card is dealt. There is one final betting round after this and then the winner is decided if the round has lasted that far. The one major difference between Omaha High is that there are two hands that can win each pot, each getting 50%. The lowest, or worst, hand and, like any other game, the best hand. This one little change adds many complicated elements to the game, and as such, I recommend reading further into it with our
Omaha 8 or Better Rules.
The accompanying strategy that a player must learn for Omaha 8 or Better is altered according to the high/low modification as well. With two winning hands possibly, a few new things come into effect. The first is how to play the low hand. Low hands, or any hand that is not a pair or better and consists of 5 cards under 8, can win half the pot and must be played just as importantly. Players can play for the high hand just the same though, and as such people will oftentimes push pots to very high amounts in hopes of forcing the “other end†betters to call and increase their 50% cut. Strategies such as these are essential in mastering Omaha 8 or Better, and can also be found in much more detail at our
Omaha 8 or Better Strategy article.
As one can see, Omaha 8 or Better is a key game for any poker player to learn and practice to add to their list of profitable games. With the split pot on every hand played, players will oftentimes see the pots raise to much higher amounts than usual, which means increased stakes. For an experienced player this means increased profits as well. By following the advice offered here and in our two accompanying articles, any poker aficionado can become successful at winning money in Omaha 8 or Better with some practice.