Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha Hi-Lo starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of wagering happens. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems complex at the start, following a couple of rounds you will be able to get the base subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as 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 or better offers an amazing array of betting options and because you have many players battling for the high, along with several trying for the low. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
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