Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of betting follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players often get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize exactly three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem difficult initially, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha High-Low offers an overwhelming collection of wagering choices and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high, and many trying for the low hand. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.
This entry was posted on December 23, 2025, 6:25 am and is filed under Poker. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.