Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi/lo begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given 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 round of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same approach in almost all poker games.
The low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. 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 worst 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 five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
While it seems complex initially, after a few hands you will be able to get the base nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing collection of betting options and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high hand, as well as several trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.