Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players can get baffled. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same concept in almost all poker games.
A low hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that 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 lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.
Although it seems difficult at the outset, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the basic subtleties of play easily enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi low offers an exciting collection of betting options and seeing that you have many individuals battling for the high hand, and several trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi lo.