Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting ensues where players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting follows 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 where a number of entrants can get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical concept in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
While it seems complex at first, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the base subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have players 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 High-Low offers an exciting range of betting choices and because you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, along with many trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.
