Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering happens and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where many players often get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card 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 strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same notion in nearly every poker game.
The low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
Although it seems difficult at the start, following a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of play with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming range of betting possibilities and seeing that you have many individuals trying for the high, as well as many battling for the low hand. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.
