Omaha Hi Low: General Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering happens at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players often get confused. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize exactly three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same approach in just about all poker games.
The lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem complex at the start, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing array of betting possibilities and because you have several individuals trying for the high hand, as well as many shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
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