Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It is a game 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 grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha hi/lo begins just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same concept in just about all poker games.
The low hand is more complex, but really free’s up the play. When determining 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 A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complicated initially, after a few rounds you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of play with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi/lo offers an exciting array of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have many players battling for the high hand, as well as many trying for the low. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha High-Low.
