Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi lo begins just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players can get confused. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same concept in just about all poker games.
The lower 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 weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.
Although it seems complex initially, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play easily enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha Hi-Lo offers an amazing assortment of wagering choices and seeing that you have many individuals shooting for the high, as well as several battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.