Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha Hi-Lo starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers 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 flipped. The gamblers must attempt 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 flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more difficult, 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 can be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand takes the entire pot.
Although it seems complex initially, after a few rounds you will be able to get the basic nuances of play easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting range of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have several players shooting for the high hand, as well as several shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
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