Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players often get confused. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same concept in just about every poker game.
The low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest 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 possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complicated initially, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic nuances of play with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha High-Low offers an amazing collection of wagering options and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high hand, as well as several trying for the low hand. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
