Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting follows where players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The players will need to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some players often get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize exactly 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 "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical notion in almost all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
Although it seems complex at first, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the base subtleties of play with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha Hi-Lo provides an amazing collection of betting choices and because you have several players battling for the high hand, as well as a few battling for the low. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.