Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants often get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same approach in nearly every poker game.
The low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.
Although it seems complex at the outset, after a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi low offers an overwhelming collection of wagering options and seeing that you have many players battling for the high, as well as many battling for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha hi/low.