Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must use exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in nearly every poker game.
The low hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem difficult at the start, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha High-Low provides an amazing array of wagering possibilities and because you have several players trying for the high, along with many shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.
