Omaha Hi-Low: General Summary
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has grown in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players can get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use precisely 3 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 can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same notion in just about every poker game.
The lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem complicated initially, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha High-Low offers an exciting collection of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have numerous players trying for the high hand, along with a few trying for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
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