Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but popular 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 invisible variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha Hi-Lo begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants can get confused. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical notion in nearly every poker game.
A low hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems complex at the start, following a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 offers an exciting collection of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have several players shooting for the high hand, and many shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.
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