Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It is 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 variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi/lo begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of entrants get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complicated at the start, after a few rounds you will be able to get the base subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha hi/lo offers an overwhelming assortment of betting options and owing to the fact that you have several individuals trying for the high, as well as many battling for the low hand. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.