Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi/low starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players often get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical notion in just about all poker games.
A low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.
While it seems complicated initially, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the base subtleties of play with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting assortment of wagering options and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high, as well as many shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
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