Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi/lo begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of wagering happens. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in just about every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. 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 made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem difficult at the start, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic nuances of the game simply enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha hi/lo offers an amazing assortment of betting possibilities and because you have many individuals trying for the high hand, and a few shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.
