Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi low starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting ensues and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some players can get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in almost every poker game.
A low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could 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 worst 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 does the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complex at first, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play easily enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering 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 overwhelming array of wagering options and because you have several individuals battling for the high, and several shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
