All About Omaha
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi low begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players often get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which 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 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in just about all poker games.
The low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.
Although it seems complex initially, after a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi/low provides an exciting range of wagering options and seeing that you have several individuals trying for the high hand, as well as a few battling for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha High-Low.