Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting ensues where players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of betting ensues. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering ensues and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants can get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complicated at first, following a few rounds you will be able to get the basic nuances of the game easily enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha Hi-Lo offers an amazing array of betting possibilities and because you have numerous individuals battling for the high, as well as several trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.
