Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of betting ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players can get flustered. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in just about every poker game.
A lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
While it seems complicated initially, following a few rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha Hi-Lo provides an exciting assortment of betting choices and seeing that you have numerous individuals battling for the high, along with several battling for the low. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi lo.