Omaha Hi/Lo: Basic Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. After all the players have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some players can get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same approach in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.
While it seems complicated at the start, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 provides an exciting array of wagering options and because you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, along with many trying for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha/8.
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