Omaha Hi Low: General Summary
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has grown in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi low begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some players can get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in nearly every poker game.
A low hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t 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 do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.
Although it seems complicated initially, following a few hands you will be able to get the basic subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an amazing collection of wagering possibilities and because you have numerous players shooting for the high hand, and a few battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha hi-low.
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