Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha hi/low starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another round of wagering happens. Once all the players have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants will have to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of players get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same approach in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the worst 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 lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem difficult initially, after a few hands you will be able to get the base nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing range of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have numerous individuals trying for the high, as well as a few trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.
