Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. Another round of betting ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The players will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players get confused. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may 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, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in nearly all poker games.
The low hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complex at the start, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an amazing range of betting options and owing to the fact that you have several individuals trying for the high hand, as well as a few trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha High-Low.
