Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently 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 all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha hi low begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of betting follows where players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. After all the players have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of entrants can get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same notion in just about every poker game.
A low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem difficult at the outset, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play easily enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming array of wagering choices and seeing that you have numerous players battling for the high, along with a few shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.
