Omaha

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has grown in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of entrants often get flustered. Contrasted to 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 exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in nearly every poker game.

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

It may seem complex initially, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic nuances of play with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi/lo offers an exciting assortment of wagering options and seeing that you have many individuals battling for the high hand, as well as many trying for the low. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.