Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting follows where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players can get baffled. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same approach in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems difficult at the start, following a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming assortment of wagering possibilities and because you have many individuals shooting for the high, as well as many trying for the low. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.