Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha Hi-Lo begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting ensues where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of entrants get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no 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’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in nearly every poker game.
A low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem complex initially, following a few hands you will be agile enough to get the base nuances of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi/low provides an exciting range of betting choices and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, as well as a few battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.