Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It’s a variation 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 increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering happens at which point 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 where some players get baffled. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. 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 "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same notion in just about all poker games.
A low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest value 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 low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.
Although it seems complicated at first, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an amazing collection of betting choices and because you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, and a few trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi-low.