Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha hi-low starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting ensues where players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize precisely three cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same concept in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complicated at first, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha hi low offers an overwhelming array of wagering options and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high, as well as several shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
