Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi low begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of betting happens. Once all the players have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players get baffled. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use precisely three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same approach in just about every poker game.
The low hand is more complex, but certainly free’s 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 A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complex at first, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play easily enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha Hi-Lo provides an exciting assortment of betting possibilities and seeing that you have many individuals shooting for the high, as well as a few trying for the low. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.