Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of betting ensues. After all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many players can get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same approach in almost all poker games.
A low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem difficult at the start, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 provides an exciting array of wagering choices and seeing that you have many individuals shooting for the high, and several trying for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
