Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi-low starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants get confused. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same notion in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the worst being made up of 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 five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
Although it seems complex initially, following a few hands you will be agile enough to get the basic subtleties of the game easily enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha High-Low provides an exciting range of wagering choices and seeing that you have many players battling for the high hand, and a few shooting for the low. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.
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