Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi-low starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers 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 number of entrants get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.
While it seems difficult at first, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing array of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have many players shooting for the high hand, along with a few battling for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha/8.