Omaha Hi/Lo: Fundamental Summary
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi-low starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some players can get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly 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 identical notion in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more complex, but certainly 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 can be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems difficult at first, after a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing range of betting possibilities and because you have numerous players trying for the high hand, as well as several trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.
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