Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting ensues where players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more round of wagering happens. After all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants can get confused. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the identical concept in nearly every poker game.
The lower hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.
While it seems difficult initially, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of play with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha High-Low offers an overwhelming assortment of betting options and owing to the fact that you have numerous individuals battling for the high hand, as well as several battling for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.