Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha Hi-Lo begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more round of betting happens. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of players often get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in just about every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complex at first, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha High-Low provides an exciting range of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have several players shooting for the high, as well as a few battling for the low hand. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.