Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi/lo starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of betting follows in which players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of betting ensues and then the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of players can get flustered. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same notion in almost all poker games.
A low hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that might 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 worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem difficult at first, following a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing assortment of betting choices and seeing that you have many individuals shooting for the high, as well as several shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha hi lo.