Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of wagering follows at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players can get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely two 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 "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in just about all poker games.
A low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on 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. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem complicated initially, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game simply enough. Since you have individuals 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 8 or better offers an amazing range of wagering choices and because you have several players trying for the high hand, as well as a few shooting for the low. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha High-Low.
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