Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but favored poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering ensues and then the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants get confused. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in just about every poker game.
A low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t 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. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem difficult at the outset, following a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play easily enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha hi/low offers an exciting array of wagering options and because you have many players battling for the high hand, along with many trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.