Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another round of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of entrants often get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No 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’s 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.
A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could 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 worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
While it seems complex at first, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi-low provides an amazing assortment of betting options and owing to the fact that you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, along with a few battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi low.
