Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has grown in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of betting follows in which players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. After all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt 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 confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in nearly every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.
Although it seems complex at the outset, after a few hands you will be agile enough to get the base subtleties of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi-low provides an exciting assortment of betting choices and seeing that you have many individuals trying for the high hand, as well as several battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.