Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering ensues in which players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some players can get flustered. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in just about all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
While it seems complicated at first, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi low offers an amazing range of wagering possibilities and because you have several players trying for the high, and a few shooting for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha hi/low.