Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi/lo starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to use precisely three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the identical concept in almost all poker games.
The low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
Although it seems complicated at first, following a few rounds you will be able to get the basic subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha hi lo provides an overwhelming range of betting options and because you have numerous individuals trying for the high, and several shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi low.