Omaha Hi/Lo: General Summary
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly 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 every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players can get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same concept in almost every poker game.
The lower hand is more complicated, 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 can be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
While it seems difficult at the outset, following a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming range of wagering choices and seeing that you have many individuals battling for the high hand, as well as a few battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
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