Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It is 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 invisible variation, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering follows in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players can get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical approach in almost all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the worst 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 low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem complicated at first, following a few rounds you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha High-Low provides an exciting array of betting options and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high, along with many shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha High-Low.
