Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where many entrants get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same notion in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as 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 high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
While it seems complex at first, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game easily enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an exciting assortment of wagering choices and seeing that you have several individuals trying for the high, along with several trying for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha/8.
