Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of players often get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use precisely three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the identical approach in nearly every poker game.
The lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.
Although it seems complicated initially, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi-low offers an exciting range of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have several players trying for the high, and many shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.