Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi low starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some entrants can get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize precisely three cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same notion in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complex at first, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi/low provides an overwhelming array of wagering possibilities and because you have many players trying for the high hand, along with several battling for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.
