There are actually two versions of the popular game, Omaha: the Omaha Hi Lo 8 and the Omaha Hi only. The two games can be played using: limit, no limit and pot limit structure depending upon the will of the player. You may hear someone saying that they enjoy playing a game known as Omaha 8, Hi-Lo, Better, or simply Eight; you need not to be confused of what they are saying since it is just the same. This game is very much popular among players these days especially the low limit kind wherein all players are thrilled of having a split pot.
Given that the high and low would normally split the pot, there are a lot of players who would stay on the River card in order to make the pot grew large. For you to posses a hand which will qualify as low, you must not have any card which is higher than 8 among your 5 cards. The straight or flush is simply ignored when aiming for the low hand. In view of this, the lowest hand would include A 2 3 4 5. Given the fact that you have to employ two cards on hand, the board should contain 3 cards which are 8 or lower. In case there is no qualifying low hand then the person that possesses the highest staring hand will emerge as winner.
Moreover, a lot of players would consider the A-2 as the Holy Grail when they see it on the Omaha Hi Lo starting hand thus they would right ahead raise with this hand which is indeed very wrong for numbers of reason. The First one is, given the fact that for you to b qualified for low, there should be more than 3 low cards on the board but this is not usually the case especially if three high cards are available on the flop. If this is the case then you can find yourself in huge trouble. Another good reason why you should not raise the pre-flop using just the A-2 is, if there is an ace or a deuce on the board then you will end up being counterfeited given that it will rob the chance of using A or 2 except when the fourth low card appears on the board by the river.
Moreover, a person is also restricted to use the A-2 as the Omaha Hi LO starting hands is because there is a big chance that somebody is also holding such card. However, if you really would like to use it then at least you can go home with a quarter of the pot. Expect however that being quartered will cost you some cash thus beware of submitting yourself into a raising war. Discipline yourself and never ever rush things so as to ensure to bag the money. As they would normally says, patience is what is needed in every Omaha Hi Lo game.
Omaha Hi Lo Starting Hands Chart
Super Premium
AAxx
Premium
A2xx
A23x
KKxx
QQxx
Ax suited
Good Hands
Pocket 10 tens or Jacks with connecting cards and/or double suited.
2,3 with another wheel card or double suited.
4 Broadway cards.
A3xx
A45x