Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complicated but favored poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players can get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same approach in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems difficult initially, after a few rounds you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 offers an exciting assortment of betting possibilities and because you have numerous individuals trying for the high hand, along with several trying for the low. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi lo.