Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi/low starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of betting ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants often get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike 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’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same concept in nearly every poker game.
A lower hand is more complicated, but really 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 put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
Although it seems difficult at first, following a few rounds you will be able to get the base subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha Hi-Lo provides an amazing assortment of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have numerous players battling for the high, along with many shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.
