Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. Another round of betting happens. Once all the players have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants can get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same concept in almost every poker game.
A 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 could be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
While it seems complex initially, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi lo offers an exciting array of betting options and seeing that you have numerous individuals shooting for the high, and a few shooting for the low. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.