Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many players can get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize precisely three cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same notion in just about every poker game.
The low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t 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. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
While it seems complex at the start, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha hi/lo offers an amazing range of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have numerous players trying for the high hand, and many battling for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha hi/lo.
This entry was posted on April 27, 2025, 2:25 am and is filed under Omaha. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.