Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha Hi-Lo starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting ensues in which players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. Another round of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players often get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical notion in nearly all poker games.
A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the play. 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 value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.
While it seems complex at the start, after a few hands you will be able to get the basic subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting assortment of betting options and owing to the fact that you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, and many trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.