Omaha Hi-Lo: Basic Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no 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, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same approach in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not 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. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems difficult initially, following a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming collection of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high hand, and several shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
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