Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of wagering happens at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of players often get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in just about all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complex initially, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha High-Low offers an exciting collection of betting choices and seeing that you have many individuals trying for the high hand, along with many trying for the low hand. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha hi-low.
