Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. One more round of betting happens. Once all the players have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants get baffled. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same concept in nearly all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest 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 possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. 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 complicated at first, after a few rounds you will be able to get the base subtleties of the game easily enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi low offers an overwhelming assortment of betting possibilities and because you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, along with many battling for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi lo.
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