Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has grown in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of betting ensues. After all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants can get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.
Although it seems difficult at first, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of play simply enough. Since 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 hi/lo provides an amazing range of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have numerous individuals battling for the high, and many shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi/lo.