Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It is a game 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 acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants often get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same concept in just about every poker game.
The low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst 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 does the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.
While it seems complex at first, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing array of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, along with a few battling for the low hand. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi/lo.
