Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has grown in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players can get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same concept in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the complete pot.
While it seems difficult at first, after a few rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming array of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have many individuals trying for the high hand, as well as a few shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha hi/low.