Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi/low begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of entrants often get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use exactly three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same concept in just about every poker game.
A low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that 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 8 and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complicated at first, after a few hands you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi lo provides an overwhelming assortment of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have several individuals trying for the high hand, along with a few battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.
