Omaha Hi-Lo: General Overview
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha Hi-Lo starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting ensues and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike 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 is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in nearly every poker game.
A low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not 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 lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complicated at first, following a few rounds you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an amazing range of wagering options and because you have numerous individuals shooting for the high, along with several trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha hi/lo.
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