Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has grown in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi/low starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of betting follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of wagering happens. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants can get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use precisely three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, 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 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.
While it seems difficult at the start, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 offers an amazing collection of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have many players shooting for the high, as well as a few shooting for the low. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.