Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of betting ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many players get confused. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same notion in almost all poker games.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem difficult at first, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi lo provides an exciting collection of betting options and because you have several players shooting for the high hand, along with several trying for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha Hi-Lo.
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