Omaha 8 Or Better Starting Hands
Rules of the Game
Omaha/8 is a split pot game, which means that unless someone scoops the pot it will be split. There are two ways to scoop the entire pot. The first is to have both the best high and low hands. The other way is to possess the best high hand when no hand qualifies for the low. The high hand in Omaha/8 is the identical to a winning. In hold'em, the difference between a good starting hand and a mediocre starting hand is huge. In Omaha, starting hands are not as important. A hand like A A K 4 is only a 58% favorite against a hand like 8 6 5 4. The best starting hands in low-limit Omaha are hands where you.
The very best PLO8 and O8 starting hands are known as ‘suited babies’, that is to say small suited cards with an ace suited with at least one other card. These hands have the very best chance of scooping both sides of the pot. A A K K is the best Omaha starting hand, but right next to it is, surprisingly, A A J T as it has much more straight potential than the third-best hand, A A Q Q. Almost all the top 30 hands from our chart have at least one strong pair in them: either A A, K K, Q Q or J J. Good Omaha/8 Starting Hands This hand provides no possibility of a low hand so you would definitely like to see all high cards on the flop including a ten. There are also two flush draws, one to the nut and the other to the second nut.
Pot Limit Big O High/Low Eight or Better is a five card version of Pot Limit Omaha Eight or Better (PLO8) and is often referred to simply as Big O. Big O is much more common as a live cash game than PLO8 especially at the WSOP. In addition, it’s also included in the WSOP Dealer’s Choice and Omaha mixed game rotations.
In our opinion, PLO8 might be the most challenging of all poker variants to play at a high level. It is a split pot game so you must play technically sound but at the same time must make strong reads and bold moves in order to deny other opponents their equity. Does that mean since Big O is played with five cards is it even more challenging? Not necessarily, in Big O since everyone holds five cards the playing field is more level. Talented aggressive players cannot roam with as reckless of abandon because they will more often run into powerful hands. Thus a key weapon of their winning PLO8 strategy will be neutered to a degree.
Basic Strategy
In Big O starting with high quality starting hands is imperative. In four card Omaha games there are up to six different two card combinations that may be used to make the best hand, however in Big O it is ten. So going from PLO8 to Big O is not a 20% increase (5/4) in combinations, it is a 66% increase.
It is mandatory that low hands have some extra value, such as three premium low cards, a big pair, and/or flush possibilities. High hands also needed to be very strong. Two very large pairs regardless of the side card or whether or not they are suited are typically playable as top set is a premium holding. High hands not accompanied by two big pairs need to be very good to premium; they should either be double suited or at the minimum have all cards above a nine. Middling rundowns are marginal in PLO8 but are even more so in Big O.
Further Learning
There are none either online or written that we know of so be on the lookout for more material in future on countingouts.com.
Are you looking for a poker game where patience and technical skill is rewarded? A game where the variance is lower than in any other form of poker. A game where there are great opportunities to make money. Does such a game exist? Yes, it does, and that game is Omaha 8 Limit.
This site is aimed at players who have some, maybe a lot, of experience of other forms of poker, including Hold’em. You may now be looking to branch out, and learn a new game. Alternatively, you may already be an experienced Omaha 8 or better player, and be aiming to improve your skill level.
Omaha 8 Limit Poker is a game of patience, of discipline, and above all of skill. It will appeal to all thinking players.
- Prefer physical books? Get the Paperback on Amazon.com or UK customers here on Amazon.co.uk
Where can I play Omaha 8 or Better?
Online, Pokerstars offers a choice of 6 and 10 seater games from as low as $0.02 / $0.04 to as a high as $1,000 / $2,000. During peak times, as many as 30 tables may be running.
Omaha 8 Or Better Starting Hands
The popular 8 game, which also runs on Pokerstars, also includes Omaha 8 Limit as one of its core games.
Omaha 8 Or Better Strategy
Live, the Venetian in Las Vegas runs regular games at $4/ $8 and $8/ $16. The game is also popular in California and the West Coast.