Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but favored poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants can get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower 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 concept in almost all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
Although it seems complicated at the start, following a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an exciting collection of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have numerous individuals trying for the high hand, as well as a few shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi lo.
