Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants often get baffled. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in nearly all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem complicated initially, following a few hands you will be able to get the basic nuances of play with ease. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming range of betting possibilities and because you have numerous players shooting for the high hand, as well as many shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.