Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi/lo starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further round of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The players will have to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players can get confused. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same approach in just about all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. 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 higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
Although it seems complex initially, following a couple of rounds you will be able to get the basic nuances of the game easily 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 hi low provides an amazing collection of wagering choices and because you have numerous players battling for the high hand, as well as several battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.