07.08
Omaha Hi Low: Basic Summary
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha hi-low starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of entrants often get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use precisely three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same notion in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more difficult, 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 value 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 low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complicated at the outset, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting collection of wagering possibilities and because you have numerous players trying for the high, along with several shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi/lo.