Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of betting follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering ensues and then the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants often get flustered. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize precisely three cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in just about all poker games.
The lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Since 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 eight and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem complex at the start, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming collection of betting possibilities and seeing that you have numerous individuals shooting for the high hand, and several trying for the low hand. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.
