Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants often get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card 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 exactly what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in nearly 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 do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.
While it seems complex at the start, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha hi lo offers an overwhelming collection of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have several players shooting for the high hand, as well as a few trying for the low hand. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha hi/lo.
