Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi-low begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues and then the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants can get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use precisely three cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. 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 what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same concept in nearly every poker game.
The lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because 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 smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
While it seems complex at the start, following a few hands you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha High-Low provides an exciting range of wagering options and because you have numerous individuals trying for the high, as well as a few trying for the low hand. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha Hi-Lo.