Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of betting follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further round of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many players can get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that 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 eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.
Although it seems complex at first, following a few hands you will be able to get the basic subtleties of play with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an amazing assortment of betting options and owing to the fact that you have numerous players shooting for the high hand, along with several battling for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.