Omaha Hi Low: Basic Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering follows in which players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players often get flustered. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same notion in almost all poker games.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as 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 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems complex initially, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming range of wagering choices and seeing that you have numerous players battling for the high hand, as well as a few battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha hi/lo.
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