Omaha Hi-Lo: General Summary

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha Hi-Lo begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering happens at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a number of players can get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same approach in just about all poker games.

The lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.

It may seem difficult at the start, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing array of wagering possibilities and because you have several players battling for the high, along with a few battling for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha/8.