Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting ensues where players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many players can get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same concept in just about all poker games.
The lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complex initially, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances 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 being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an exciting array of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have many individuals trying for the high, along with several shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha/8.