Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players can get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use precisely three cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal 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’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in nearly every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the play. When determining 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 A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 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 takes the entire pot.
While it seems complicated at first, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the basic nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming range of betting choices and seeing that you have numerous players shooting for the high hand, as well as several battling for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha/8.