Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some players often get confused. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same approach in nearly every poker game.
A lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not 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 lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
While it seems complex at the start, after a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming array of betting options and because you have many players battling for the high, and many battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.