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 variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players can get baffled. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same notion in almost all poker games.
A lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not 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. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.
Although it seems complex at first, following a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances 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 in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing array of wagering choices and because you have many individuals battling for the high, and several trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha hi-low.