Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of betting follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants can get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same notion in just about every poker game.
A lower hand is more complex, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complex initially, following a few rounds you will be able to get the fundamental 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 provides an exciting collection of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have several players shooting for the high hand, along with a few shooting for the low. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha hi lo.
