Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but popular 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 irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi-low starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players can get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in nearly every poker game.
The low hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems complex initially, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting assortment of betting possibilities and seeing that you have numerous players battling for the high hand, as well as a few trying for the low hand. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.