Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi/lo starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. After all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players can get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same notion in almost every poker game.
The 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 might be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complex initially, after a few hands you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of play easily enough. Seeing as 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 overwhelming array of wagering possibilities and because you have numerous individuals trying for the high hand, as well as many shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.