Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of betting ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some players often get confused. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in nearly all poker games.
The low hand is more complex, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the worst 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 possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem complex at the outset, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the basic nuances of the game simply enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 offers an exciting array of betting choices and seeing that you have several players shooting for the high hand, as well as several shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.
