Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of betting follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of wagering happens. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting ensues and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize precisely three cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same notion in almost every poker game.
The lower hand is more complex, but really 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 don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
Although it seems complicated at the outset, following a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base nuances of the game easily enough. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming assortment of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, along with a few shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha hi/lo.