Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi lo starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows in which players can wager, check, or fold. 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, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players often get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same approach in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When figuring out 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 made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem complicated at first, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting assortment of wagering options and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high, as well as several battling for the low hand. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha High-Low.