Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but favored poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha hi-low starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further round of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering ensues and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players get confused. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in nearly every poker game.
The low hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
While it seems difficult initially, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of the game simply enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi lo offers an amazing array of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have many players battling for the high, and many battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha/8.