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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but favored poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of wagering happens at which point the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
Although it seems difficult at the start, following a few hands you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming assortment of betting options and owing to the fact that you have many players battling for the high, along with several battling for the low. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
