Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi/low starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where many players get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same concept in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more complex, 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 could be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem difficult at the outset, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha hi/lo provides an exciting collection of wagering choices and seeing that you have numerous players trying for the high hand, and many shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha hi/low.
