Omaha Hi-Lo: Fundamental Summary
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi-low begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering happens and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants can get flustered. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use precisely three cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the identical approach in nearly every poker game.
The low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.
Although it seems complicated at the outset, after a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming assortment of betting options and seeing that you have several players battling for the high hand, along with many trying for the low hand. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha Hi-Lo.