Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting follows where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many entrants get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just 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 almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not 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. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems difficult at first, after a few hands you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi-low provides an exciting range of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have many players trying for the high, and many battling for the low hand. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha hi low.