Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha hi low begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further round of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The players will have to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players often get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. 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 "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same notion in almost all poker games.
A lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
While it seems complex at the start, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi-low offers an overwhelming array of betting possibilities and because you have several individuals trying for the high hand, as well as several shooting for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.