Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha hi lo starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering ensues in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting happens. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The players will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players can get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize exactly three cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same notion in just about all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
While it seems difficult at the start, following a few hands you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting assortment of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have many players trying for the high, and several trying for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha/8.