Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha hi/low starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of wagering happens. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players often get baffled. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use precisely three cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more complex, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem difficult initially, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the basic subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha hi lo provides an exciting range of betting possibilities and seeing that you have many individuals shooting for the high, as well as several trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha/8.