Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi/lo starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting follows where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. Another round of betting happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players get confused. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same approach in just about every poker game.
The lower hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the play. When determining 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 made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.
While it seems complicated initially, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming array of wagering possibilities and because you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, and several shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.
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