Understanding Omaha Poker
By Claire Bowes

Basic strategy
Omaha poker is undisputedly more complicated than Texas Holdem because of the fact that players will have to make guesses on four of the cards instead of only two in Texas Holdem. Another is the fact that with the players going to use two of the cards in the pocket cards and three in the community cards, the possibilities and the combinations of the hands are greater. It is much more difficult for a player to guess the outcome of the game in Omaha poker than in some poker game types.

One variation of the Omaha poker is the Omaha Hi/Lo, which is quite the rage in the United States. In fact, it is the Hi/Lo variation that are often seen in US casinos as opposed to the Hi variation, which quite prevalent in European casinos. The name Hi/Lo is actually a shortcut for Hi/Lo split, eight or better.

In Omaha Hi/Lo, it is not the one with high hand that is given the pot money. The player with the best hand will have to split the pot money with the player with the lowest hand, provided that his hand can meet some requirements. If there is no low hand that can meet the requirements, then the best player will get the full pot money.

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