Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same concept in just about all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that 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 high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem complex at the outset, following a few rounds you will be able to get the basic subtleties of the game simply enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing array of betting choices and because you have many individuals trying for the high, as well as a few shooting for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha hi-low.