Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. Another round of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants get flustered. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical approach in almost all poker games.
A lower hand is more complex, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
While it seems complex initially, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of play easily enough. 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 array of wagering possibilities and because you have many individuals trying for the high, along with many battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
