Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi low starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some players often get baffled. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical notion in almost every poker game.
A low hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.
Although it seems complex initially, following a couple of rounds you will be able to get the base subtleties of the game easily enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting range of betting possibilities and because you have several individuals shooting for the high, and several battling for the low. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha/8.