Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi-low starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. Another round of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of entrants can get confused. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same notion in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the play. When determining 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. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem complicated at the outset, following a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing collection of wagering choices and seeing that you have several players battling for the high hand, as well as several shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
