Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but favored poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi/lo begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players get confused. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in almost every poker game.
The lower hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems complicated at the start, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people wagering 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 offers an overwhelming array of betting possibilities and because you have numerous individuals battling for the high hand, along with several shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.