Omaha Variants

As the poker boom increases so does the popularity of Omaha and its variants. It only makes sense to touch on this every growing poker game; one that is rarely touched on and very much overlooked.

In reality when looked at seriously each and every Omaha tournament you enter is going to have easier competition. The world seems to know the game of NL Texas Hold'em like the back of their hands; this doesn't apply to Omaha and its variants giving you a much better chance in any game. This of course only applies if you take a serious attempt at learning the game of Omaha or already know it like the back of your hands.

Let's take a look at Omaha and its variants and what each have to offer; specifically for those who are thinking of taking up the game and know little about it.

Omaha Hi

One of the best starting hands in Omaha Hi. It can be very good combinations are: AA as the highest pair, two hearts (Ah-Th), and two spades (As-Js) for a high flush or straight flush, and AT, AJ and JT for possible high streets.

For the determination of the best hand in Omaha Hi is the normal rating. The best combination of exactly two cards and exactly three community cards each player is compared, and the player with the best hand gets the entire pot.

Example

The following source demonstrates a showdown between two Omaha hands. Player 1 on the left side (K-9-6-6) wins the hand with a triple kings (KKKT-9) before player 2 on the right side (AQJ-8) with two pairs kings and Eighth (KK-8 - 8-A). Player 1 uses K-9 from his hand, and by the KKT community cards for their best possible hand, Player 2 uses A-8 from his hand, and KK-8 from the community cards.

A showdown in a Omaha Hi game.

Player 1 does not have a Full House, because it exactly two cards of his hand, and for the full-house kings, he would need about six K-6-6 from his hand cards, which is contrary to the rules. Player 2 has no road, as it also three of his cards (AQJ) would have to use. Furthermore, both players do not flush, because it will cross the four cards of the five community cards would have to use, but must use exactly three. For a flush you need at least two same-colored cards in hand.

Omaha Hi-Lo

One of the best starting hands in Omaha Hi-Lo. The multiplicity of possible combinations is also crucial. For a good high hand hold: Ace-ace as the highest pair, two hearts and two spades for a high flush, and ace-2, ace-3 and 2-3 for possible routes. For a good low hand-hold: ace-2, ace-3 or 2-3.

Like most poker variants can also Omaha High-Low played: The pot is between the best high hand and best low hand split. For the determination of the best high hand is the normal rating. For the low hand is usually an 8 or better system. Here the players will qualify for a low hand, the five different cards 8 or lower (with the Ace as the lowest card) can have. They are neither roads nor flush - that is, straights and flushes do not alter the ranking of low hand. There must be at least three different cards 8 or lower in the community cards, since otherwise no low hand possible. The best possible low hand is 5-4-3-2-Ace (also known as Wheel). A comparison of two low hands evaluates one of the highest card down. So 6-5-4-3-2 is a better low hand than 7 p.m. to 4 p.m.-3-2-Ace (counted from the top is lower than the 6 to 7), and 7-6-4-2-Ace proposes 7-6-4-3-Ace (the first three cards are the same, but the 2 is better than the 3).

The players can handle the high and low handle different cards, but must be exactly two of their four hand cards. Can not a valid player low hand which, the entire pot goes to the player with the best high hand. Otherwise, split the pot, but also a player and the best low as well as the best high hand and thus can have the whole pot wins - a so-called Scoop. If two or more players have identical low handle, then the pot for the low hand split between the players (see split pot), exactly the same as for high hands.

Omaha high-low rules are as follows:-

• Four faces down pocket cards are dealt.
• For the showdown of the 5 cards required for the qualifying high or low or both, two cards should be from the pocket cards and 3 cards should be from the board cards.
• The splitting of the pot is like half for the best low hand and half for the best high hand in Omaha high-low games.
• If there is going to be no qualifying low in Omaha the high hand takes the pot in full.
• If there is going to be a high and a low in Omaha high-low in the same player, then the player scoops the full pot.
• If there is going to be a high followed by two equally qualifying low, then the pot is split between the two lows in quarter and the major half goes to the high.
• The main thing with Omaha high-low is that straights and flushes will not count against you if you are qualifying for a low. The qualifying low hand can be between 54,321 to 87,654. 54,321 are the best low rank hand also called the “wheel” and 87.654 is the worse possible qualifying low hand.

• The player with best 5 cards win.

• Odd chips in the pot split are given to the high hand!

The rest of the rules for high low games in Omaha are same in terms of ranking and betting structure like the blind bets and betting rounds spreading through pre-flop, flop, turn, and river.