Omaha

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some players get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just 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 very same notion in nearly every poker game.

A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could 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 lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.

It may seem difficult at first, following a few rounds you will be able to get the base subtleties of play with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 provides an amazing array of wagering options and seeing that you have many players trying for the high hand, and a few shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.