Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. Another round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some players often get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same notion in just about every poker game.
A low hand is more complex, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
While it seems difficult at first, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have people betting 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 or better offers an overwhelming collection of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have numerous players shooting for the high, and many trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha Hi-Lo.
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