Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another round of betting happens. After all the players have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants get confused. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in nearly every poker game.
The lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
Although it seems difficult at first, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of play with ease. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi/low provides an amazing array of betting choices and because you have several individuals battling for the high hand, and a few shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.
