Omaha Hi Lo: General Summary
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting ensues where players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike 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’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem difficult at the start, following a few rounds you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha Hi-Lo provides an amazing array of betting choices and seeing that you have numerous players battling for the high hand, as well as many battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
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