Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players can get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same concept in almost all poker games.
The low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, 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 five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem complex initially, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha High-Low offers an exciting range of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have many players shooting for the high, and several trying for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.