Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players can get baffled. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same concept in nearly every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
While it seems complicated at the start, after a few hands you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of play easily enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming assortment of betting options and seeing that you have several players trying for the high hand, as well as a few shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.
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