Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants get confused. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same approach in nearly every poker game.
A lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
While it seems difficult at the outset, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 offers an exciting array of wagering options and because you have many players shooting for the high, along with many trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
