Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further round of wagering happens. After all the players have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players often get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card 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 just how it sounds. It is the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same approach in just about all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems complicated initially, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of the game easily enough. 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 offers an amazing array of wagering options and seeing that you have numerous individuals shooting for the high, as well as many battling for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi/lo.
