Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting ensues where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of wagering happens. After all the players have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants can get baffled. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same concept in nearly all poker games.
The lower hand is more complex, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem complicated at the outset, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming range of betting options and because you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, along with many shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha hi low.