Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha hi/low starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of betting ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. Another round of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players can get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same approach in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems complex at the outset, after a few hands you will be able to get the base nuances of play with ease. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting array of betting possibilities and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high, along with a few trying for the low. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
