Omaha Hi Low: Basic Overview
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi-low begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same concept in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem difficult at the start, after a few rounds you will be able to get the base subtleties of the game easily enough. 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 or better provides an amazing range of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have several players battling for the high hand, along with a few trying for the low. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.