Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting ensues in which players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of players can get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in almost every poker game.
The lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems complex at the start, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the base nuances of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi/lo provides an overwhelming array of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have numerous individuals trying for the high, along with a few shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.