Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular 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 rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting follows where players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more round of wagering happens. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can 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 five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems difficult initially, following a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an exciting collection of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have many players trying for the high hand, along with a few trying for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha hi low.
