Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi low begins like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting follows where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of wagering happens. After all the players have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering happens and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some entrants often get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same concept in just about every poker game.
A lower hand is more complex, 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 can be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.
While it seems complicated at first, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an exciting array of wagering options and seeing that you have many individuals trying for the high, and several battling for the low. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.