Omaha Hi-Lo: Fundamental Summary
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another round of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants can get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same notion in nearly every poker game.
The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem difficult initially, after a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic nuances of play simply enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an exciting collection of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have numerous players trying for the high, along with a few shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha High-Low.