Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same concept in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complex initially, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Since you have individuals wagering 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 provides an overwhelming range of wagering options and because you have several individuals trying for the high hand, as well as many shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
