Omaha 8/b is now becoming one of the most common poker variants online.  There are now more players discovering this game.  Apart from newcomers, there are also veterans who are drawn to it for a different pace.  The game seems complicated at first and strange.

About Omaha 8/b

Players also tend to conclude the fact that the game is random.  Like all other poker variants, Omaha 8/b is a game of skill.  Players can calculate their odds based on what they have, and what they see on the board.  To be able to avoid confusing yourself with the prevailing misconceptions of the game, getting the basics is the best way to clear it up.

There are a lot of strategies that can be used in Omaha 8/b.  Poker forums and blogs have their own veterans to post their guides and strategies.  But before that, the fundamentals should be tackled especially when you’re a newcomer to the game.  Omaha 8/b is quite similar to Texas Hold’em but they have their key differences.

The Cards

Before getting yourself confused with reading the cards, make sure you read it right first.  Two hole cards are needed to play with three on the board.  If there is a spade flush on the board, you need to have two spade hole cards to play with it.  You can use different pairs to play the high hand and the low hand or you can one pair to play both.  A starting hand of double aces can both play for the high hand and the low hand.

A low only exists when there are three cards with different ranks on the board which are 8 and below.  If there aren’t any players compete for the highest hand to scoop all the pot.  The best lowest hand is 54321 and the worst is 87654.  To be able to read your card easily, read it like a whole number, starting from the highest to lowest then compare it.  The card closest to 54, 321 is the winner.

Omaha 8/b is not a random game as other player might conclude.  You know how many pairs that you have.  By looking at the board, you know if your pairs work or not.  By noting the cards your opponents have, you can calculate your odds.  If you are confused as to which are your low cards, you can ask the dealer directly for help.  These key strategies are simple and help demystify the game.