Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting follows where players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same notion in just about all poker games.
The low hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem difficult initially, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming range of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have many individuals battling for the high, and a few shooting for the low. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.