Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of betting ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering ensues and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical approach in almost all poker games.
A low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.
Although it seems difficult at the start, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the base nuances of play with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 offers an exciting range of wagering options and because you have several players battling for the high hand, along with several trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.
