Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi lo begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some players get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same notion in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
While it seems complicated at the start, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi/low offers an exciting array of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have numerous individuals trying for the high hand, and a few trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha hi/lo.
