Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi/low starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players get flustered. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in nearly every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since 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 8 and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complex at the outset, following a couple of rounds you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming range of betting choices and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high, as well as several trying for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.