Omaha

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but popular 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 variation, has grown in popularity so quickly.

Omaha hi lo begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more round of wagering happens. After all the players have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a few players often get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. 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 same notion in almost every poker game.

The low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

Although it seems complex initially, after a few rounds you will be able to get the basic nuances of play with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi/lo provides an exciting collection of betting options and seeing that you have many individuals battling for the high hand, as well as several battling for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.