Omaha Hi-Lo: General Summary
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 variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of betting follows in which players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of betting happens. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players often get baffled. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use precisely three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may 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, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical concept in nearly every poker game.
A lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complicated at the start, following a few rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of the game with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha hi lo offers an amazing range of wagering options and because you have many individuals battling for the high hand, as well as several shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi/lo.
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