Omaha

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will need to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many entrants can get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

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

A low hand is more complicated, but certainly 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. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.

It may seem complicated at first, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of play with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi low offers an exciting range of wagering possibilities and because you have many players shooting for the high hand, as well as many trying for the low hand. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.