Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants often get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same concept in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complex initially, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of the game easily enough. Since you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming collection of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have many individuals battling for the high hand, as well as a few trying for the low hand. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.