Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi-low begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of betting follows in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further round of betting happens. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some entrants often get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize precisely three cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same concept in nearly all poker games.
A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that 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 eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complicated at the outset, following a few hands you will be able to get the base subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha Hi-Lo offers an overwhelming range of wagering choices and seeing that you have many individuals trying for the high, and many trying for the low. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.
