Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi/lo starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players can get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in almost all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems difficult at the start, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of the game simply enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming collection of wagering options and seeing that you have several players battling for the high, as well as many battling for the low. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.