Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has grown in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better begins just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of betting ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to use precisely three cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be put together, 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 worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems complex at first, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha hi/lo offers an amazing collection of betting choices and seeing that you have several players trying for the high hand, and many shooting for the low. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.
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