Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most difficult 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 chief reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi-low starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting ensues. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is 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 same concept in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be made, 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 low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.
Although it seems difficult at the outset, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of the game easily enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming collection of betting possibilities and seeing that you have numerous players trying for the high hand, along with many battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha High-Low.
