Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has grown in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of entrants get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same concept in just about all poker games.
The lower hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
Although it seems complicated initially, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of play simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing range of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have several players shooting for the high hand, and several shooting for the low. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.
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