Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It is a variation 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 expanded in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha hi low starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants get baffled. Unlike 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 exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in just about all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as 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 takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems complicated at the start, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the basic nuances of the game easily enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting array of wagering options and seeing that you have numerous players battling for the high, as well as several battling for the low. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha High-Low.
