Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better begins like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of betting ensues where players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. Another round of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in nearly all poker games.
A lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be made, 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 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’s no lower hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complex at the start, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha hi/lo provides an overwhelming collection of betting choices and seeing that you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, as well as a few battling for the low hand. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
