Omaha Eight or Better High/Low (O8B) right now is the second most popular game
in the world. It is also one of the most complex games in the world. A couple of
reasons why O8B is so popular are that you get four cards in the hole instead of
two like in Hold’em. People find a lot more hands to play. Reason two, since
people are playing more hands the pots are usually a lot bigger. So you can win
or lose a lot of money or play chips. Let see if we can make it more wins than
loses.
I am a big believer in reading books, and there are some really good books out
there on the theory of O8B. So I am going to hit on some of the basics to let
you set down at a table and see if you like the game. Let’s get started.
First of all what does High/Low Split mean? It means that the highest hand gets
half the pot and if there is a low hand, made up of all cards 8 and below, it
gets the other half. If there is no low hand then the high hand gets the whole
thing. Shuffle up and deal.
We start out with four hole cards in your hand instead of two like in Hold’em.
Out of these four cards you MUST play two and only two of them to make your
hand. You can use two to make your high hand and the other two to make your low,
but you Must use two of them. This is beginner’s biggest mistake. Having an A,
K, Q in your hand, having a J and T hit the board and thinking you have a
straight. I can’t stress enough. Two cards out of your hand three off the
board.
Second thing to remember about O8B is “Tight Is Right.” You should not be
playing a lot of hands in this game. If you don’t get a Premium or a Strong
starting hand get out. You will see a lot of straights, flushes, full houses,
four of a kind, and even straight flushes. Pay close attention to the board. If
you have a straight and there is a possible flush on the board. Guess what,
someone has it. Look to see what the nut is, because someone will probably have
it. So let’s look at starting hands.
Premium Hands
A-A-2-3
A-A-2-x
A-A-3-x
A-2-3-4
A-2-3-x (wins a piece of the pot 40% of the time)
A-2-K-K, A-2-Q-Q
A-3-4-5
A-A-4-5
A-2-Q-K
A-3-K-K
Strong hands
A-3-4-x
2-3-4-5
J-Q-K-A
T-J-Q-K
J-Q-K-K
9-T-J-Q
2-3-4-x
Any four cards between a Ten and an Ace
Preferable have these cards two suited. The best starting hand is the A-A-2-3
with the A2 suited and the A3 suited. This way you have a staring hand of AA, 2
different nut flush hands, and a great start at getting the wheel (A-2-3-4-5)
for low.
Now we have are staring hands. Until you get good at playing O8B, I suggest
folding all other staring hands. The reason is this, most people don’t know
how or are bad at this game and they are going to chase everything. Wait for
your hand then pick up a big pot.
On the flop, if you don’t have four cards to the nut straight, nut flush, are
better, or four cards to the low. Get out of the hand. Don’t chase hands! They
will come for you.
Your high hand is just like Hold’em poker, Royal Flush on down to just a high
card. So let’s talk about the low side of things. Just like the high side you
have to play two cards out of your hand. All the low cards must be an 8 or
lower. Not all hands will have a low winner. If you don’t have two cards below
an 8 in your hand, you can’t get low. If on the flop, there is three cards all
9 and above, there will be no low hand. Also remember, no pairs for low. If the
board has A-A-2-9-Q, there is not going to be a low winner. If you have A-2-3-K
in hand, and the board shows an A-2-3-J-K. You don’t have a low hand, but if
someone else has two cards in their hand that are 4,5,6,7, 8, then they do. The
lowest winning hand is called the wheel which is A-2-3-4-5, straights and
flushes don’t count against low. Also, an A-2-3-4-8 is better than a
2-3-4-5-6.
Recap, two cards out of your hand and three off the board. Play only the staring
hands. If on the flop you don’t have four cards to the low or the nut, Fold.
Play tight, tight, tight. And when you get the nut, win big.
Thanks to TechMan Poker for contributing this article!
Poker Theory - Poker site for the
improvement of poker skills. Site reviews, articles, Blogs, Gambling and Sports
Betting - Special Member Only Freerolls. A great site for both new and
experienced poker players. Good LuckTechMan
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