Poker

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has increased in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha hi/low begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering follows where players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further round of betting ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few entrants get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize precisely three cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same approach in just about every poker game.

A low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem difficult at first, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting range of wagering choices and because you have many individuals battling for the high hand, as well as many shooting for the low. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.