02.20
Omaha Hi/Low: General Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants often get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use precisely three cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same approach in just about all poker games.
The lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because 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 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
While it seems complex at first, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the basic nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi low provides an exciting array of betting options and owing to the fact that you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, along with a few shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.