Omaha Hi/Lo: Basic Summary
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting happens. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of wagering follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that 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 8 and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complicated initially, following a few rounds you will be able to get the basic subtleties of the game simply enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi lo provides an overwhelming range of wagering possibilities and because you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, as well as many trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.
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