Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi/lo begins just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players can get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical notion in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem difficult initially, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing collection of betting possibilities and seeing that you have many players trying for the high, and a few shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi low.
