Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi/lo begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting follows where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players get flustered. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same notion in nearly every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.
Although it seems difficult at first, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the base subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha Hi-Lo offers an exciting range of wagering options and because you have several players trying for the high, and a few battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.
