Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players often get confused. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use precisely three cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in just about all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complicated at the outset, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming range of wagering choices and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high, and several battling for the low hand. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.
