Omaha Hi Low: Fundamental Outline

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha hi/low begins like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where many players often get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same notion in just about every poker game.

The lower hand is more complex, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

While it seems complex at the outset, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of play easily enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming assortment of betting possibilities and because you have several players battling for the high hand, and many battling for the low. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.