Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same concept in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of 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 low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.
While it seems complicated at first, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an amazing array of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high, as well as a few trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha hi/low.