Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of players get confused. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to utilize exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the identical concept in almost every poker game.

A low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.

While it seems complicated at first, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi-low offers an overwhelming array of betting possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high hand, along with several shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha/8.