Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. After all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of entrants get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the worst being made up of 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 five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
Although it seems difficult at the outset, following a few hands you will be agile enough to get the basic subtleties of play with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha hi-low provides an amazing range of wagering possibilities and because you have several individuals battling for the high hand, and a few shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi low.