Omaha

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

Omaha hi low starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where many players often get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same approach in just about every poker game.

The lower 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 worst hand that can be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.

It may seem difficult at the outset, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play easily enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha High-Low provides an overwhelming array of wagering choices and because you have several players battling for the high, along with a few shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.