Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi/low starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of betting ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of players often get baffled. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in almost all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.
While it seems complex at first, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the basic subtleties of play with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing range of wagering choices and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high hand, along with several battling for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.