Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of players get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more complex, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem difficult initially, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting range of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have numerous players trying for the high hand, as well as several battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi/low.