Omaha Hi-Low: Basic Overview
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better begins like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of players often get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more complex, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.
Although it seems complicated initially, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of play with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an amazing range of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have several players trying for the high, along with many shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
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