Omaha Hi-Lo: Basic Summary
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi low begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering happens at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where many players often get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same notion in almost all poker games.
A low hand is more complex, but really free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be put together, 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 worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems complex at first, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of play with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an exciting assortment of betting choices and because you have numerous players trying for the high, and many battling for the low. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha Hi-Lo.
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