Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better begins just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more round of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 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 how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in just about every poker game.
The lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be made, 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 takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complicated initially, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the base nuances of the game with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming collection of wagering options and because you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, and many trying for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
