Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another round of betting happens. After all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants often get flustered. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical approach in almost all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem difficult at the outset, following a few rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of play with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 offers an exciting array of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high, as well as a few shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha Hi-Lo.
