Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. After all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants often get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same approach in nearly every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest 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 low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.
Although it seems complex initially, following a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming array of wagering choices and because you have several players battling for the high hand, as well as a few shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha hi lo.