Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of betting follows where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same concept in almost all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
Although it seems complicated at first, following a few hands you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Since you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an exciting array of wagering choices and because you have many individuals battling for the high hand, as well as several shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha/8.
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