Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting ensues in which players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is called 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 round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players get confused. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same concept in nearly all poker games.
A lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complicated at the outset, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of play with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha High-Low offers an overwhelming collection of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have numerous players trying for the high hand, as well as many shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.