Omaha

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering ensues and then the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some players often get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to use precisely three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in nearly all poker games.

A lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not 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 just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.

It may seem complex at the outset, after a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic subtleties of play with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha hi/low provides an overwhelming collection of wagering possibilities and because you have several individuals shooting for the high, as well as a few trying for the low hand. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.