Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants often get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same concept in just about all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because 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 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem difficult initially, after a few hands you will be able to get the basic subtleties of the game simply enough. Since you have individuals 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 High-Low offers an overwhelming range of betting options and owing to the fact that you have numerous individuals trying for the high hand, as well as many shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi/low.