Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting follows where players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some entrants get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in almost every poker game.
The low 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 worst hand that could be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem difficult at first, after a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha hi/lo offers an overwhelming range of wagering possibilities and because you have several players trying for the high hand, and many battling for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
