Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi/low begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of betting follows where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize exactly three cards from the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same approach in just about every poker game.
The lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might 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 low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem difficult at the outset, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an amazing range of betting options and because you have several individuals shooting for the high, as well as many trying for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
