Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because 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 just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complicated initially, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi low provides an amazing collection of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, and several trying for the low. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.