Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting follows where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants can get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical approach in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
While it seems complicated at the outset, following a few hands you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming collection of betting options and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high, along with many battling for the low. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
