Omaha Hi/Low: Basic Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many players get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two 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 hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same approach in almost every poker game.
A low hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.
While it seems complex initially, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the base nuances of play simply enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 provides an amazing range of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have many individuals battling for the high hand, and many shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi low.