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 game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha hi-low starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering happens at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players can get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems complicated at the start, after a few hands you will be able to get the base subtleties of play with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi-low offers an exciting array of wagering options and seeing that you have many individuals trying for the high, and a few trying for the low. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha hi/low.