Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi/lo begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of betting happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering happens at which point the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players often get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical notion in just about all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not 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’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
Although it seems difficult at first, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming collection of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have several players trying for the high hand, as well as a few battling for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
