Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further round of betting happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering happens and then the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some entrants get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same concept in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complicated at first, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of the game simply enough. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an amazing array of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have numerous players trying for the high hand, as well as a few trying for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
