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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complex 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 game, has grown in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better begins like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more round of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of wagering ensues and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where many players often get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use precisely 3 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 two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same concept in almost all poker games.
The low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 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 available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complex at first, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of play easily enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi low provides an exciting collection of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have several individuals trying for the high hand, as well as many battling for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.
