Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha hi/lo begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of players often get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize exactly three cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is 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 notion in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being 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 five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem difficult at the outset, following a couple of hands you will be able to get the base nuances of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an exciting collection of betting options and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high hand, and a few shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi/low.
