Omaha Hi/Low: General Summary
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha Hi-Lo starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The players will need to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some entrants often get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in almost every poker game.
The lower hand is more difficult, 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 can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems complex at the start, following a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have players 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 provides an exciting collection of betting choices and because you have several individuals trying for the high hand, and many shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.