Omaha

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has grown in popularity so quickly.

Omaha/8 begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. One more round of betting happens. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where some entrants often get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same concept in nearly every poker game.

A low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.

It may seem complex initially, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi-low offers an exciting array of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have many players battling for the high, and many shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.