Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi lo starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players will have to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants often get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly 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 is the identical approach in almost every poker game.
A low hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the play. When figuring out 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 do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.
While it seems complex at the outset, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the basic subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people betting 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 or better offers an exciting collection of wagering options and because you have many individuals trying for the high, along with a few trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha hi low.