Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi low begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more round of wagering happens. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the best high and low five 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 precisely three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same notion in just about every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem difficult initially, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an exciting collection of wagering options and seeing that you have several players trying for the high hand, as well as a few trying for the low. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha/8.
