Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex 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 irrelevant game, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The players will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players can get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use precisely three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in almost all poker games.
A lower hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complicated initially, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of play easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an amazing array of wagering options and because you have several players shooting for the high hand, as well as several trying for the low hand. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha hi low.