Omaha Hi-Lo: Fundamental Outline

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha hi-low begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further round of betting happens. After all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many players often get baffled. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in almost every poker game.

A lower hand is more complex, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.

Although it seems difficult at the start, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of play with ease. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha hi low provides an amazing assortment of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have numerous players battling for the high, and a few shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha/8.