Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha hi-low starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of betting follows where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another round of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players can get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in just about every poker game.
The low hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
Although it seems difficult at the outset, after a few rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of the game simply enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an amazing range of wagering options and seeing that you have many individuals battling for the high hand, as well as several shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi low.
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