Omaha Hi-Lo: Basic Summary
March 11th, 2016 at 9:21
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. Another round of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where many players often get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same notion in nearly all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out 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 made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complicated at first, after a few hands you will be able to get the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming collection of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have several individuals shooting for the high, as well as many trying for the low hand. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha Hi-Lo.