Omaha Hi-Low: Basic Overview

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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, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha/8 begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a few entrants often get confused. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the identical concept in just about every poker game.

The low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.

Although it seems complex initially, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi lo offers an overwhelming assortment of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have many individuals trying for the high, as well as several trying for the low. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.