Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi/lo begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting 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 the point where a few entrants can get confused. 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 exactly two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in almost every poker game.
A low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. 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 worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.
While it seems difficult initially, after a few rounds you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 offers an amazing array of wagering choices and because you have many players trying for the high hand, along with several shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
