Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further round of betting ensues. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering happens at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players often get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular 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, etc. It’s the same approach in nearly every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
While it seems complex at the outset, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha hi-low offers an overwhelming collection of wagering choices and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high, and many trying for the low. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.