Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better begins like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. Another round of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize precisely three cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in just about all poker games.
The low hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because 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 lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complex at the start, after a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha High-Low offers an exciting range of betting choices and seeing that you have several players trying for the high hand, and many battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha/8.