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 normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi/low starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same concept in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the worst 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 value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem difficult at first, after a few hands you will be able to get the base nuances of play simply 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 provides an overwhelming range of betting options and seeing that you have several players trying for the high hand, and a few shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha hi lo.