Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering follows 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 a number of players can get flustered. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in nearly every poker game.
A lower hand is more complex, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem complex at the outset, after a few hands you will be agile enough to get the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing range of wagering choices and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high, and a few trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
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