Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has grown in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants often get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same concept in almost all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, but certainly 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 might be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complex at the start, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha High-Low offers an amazing assortment of wagering options and because you have many individuals trying for the high, and a few trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
