Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi/low begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting ensues where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering ensues and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will need to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players often get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same notion in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complicated at the start, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi-low provides an amazing collection of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, as well as several battling for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha High-Low.
