Omaha Hi/Lo: Basic Summary
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of betting ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in nearly all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because 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 smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
While it seems difficult initially, following a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of the game easily enough. Since you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing range of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have many players battling for the high, along with a few 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 participate in Omaha hi/lo.