Omaha Hi-Low: Basic Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants can get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use precisely three cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same notion in almost all poker games.
A low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
Although it seems complex initially, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough 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 since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming collection of betting options and because you have several players shooting for the high hand, and many shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.