Omaha Hi/Lo: Basic Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some players often get confused. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to utilize exactly three cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same notion in almost all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
Although it seems difficult at the outset, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play easily enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an amazing collection of wagering options and seeing that you have several players shooting for the high hand, and many shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.