Omaha Hi Low: Basic Summary
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but favored poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of betting happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players can get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in nearly every poker game.
The lower hand is more complex, 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 might be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower 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’s no low hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.
Although it seems complex initially, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the basic nuances of play easily enough. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better provides an exciting range of wagering choices and seeing that you have several players trying for the high, as well as many shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
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