Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi low starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players get confused. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize precisely three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical approach in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t 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. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems complicated initially, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming assortment of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have many individuals battling for the high hand, and several shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.
