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 variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further round of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some players often get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just 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. It’s the identical concept in nearly every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complex at the outset, following a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha hi low provides an overwhelming array of betting options and seeing that you have numerous players battling for the high, along with many trying for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
