Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha hi/lo begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants can get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in almost all poker games.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest value 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 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complicated at the start, following a few hands you will be able to get the base subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi low offers an overwhelming array of betting choices and because you have numerous players trying for the high hand, and several battling for the low hand. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.
