Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting follows where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players can get baffled. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical concept in nearly all poker games.
The low hand is more complex, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
Although it seems difficult at first, following a couple of hands you will be able to get the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 provides an exciting assortment of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have many individuals shooting for the high, and many trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha High-Low.
