Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering follows at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants often get baffled. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in nearly every poker game.
A low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.
Although it seems complex at the start, after a few rounds you will be able to get the base subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha High-Low provides an amazing array of wagering choices and seeing that you have several players trying for the high, and many shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.