Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another round of betting happens. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some entrants get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical approach in nearly every poker game.
A low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complex at the start, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi/low offers an exciting array of betting options and because you have many individuals shooting for the high, along with many shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
