Omaha Hi Low: General Summary
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting ensues where players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players can get baffled. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use precisely three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the identical concept in just about all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
While it seems complex at first, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming collection of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have many individuals battling for the high hand, along with a few shooting for the low. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.