Omaha Hi-Low: Basic Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi-low starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more round of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize precisely three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher 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, etc. It is the identical concept in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complicated initially, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game easily enough. Since you have players 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 amazing range of wagering options and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high hand, along with a few trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.