Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha hi lo starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of entrants get confused. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that 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 smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem difficult at the outset, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an amazing range of wagering options and seeing that you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, and several trying for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.
