Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further round of betting happens. Once all the players have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering ensues and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants can get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to utilize precisely three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same concept in just about all poker games.
The low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest value 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 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complex initially, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming collection of betting choices and because you have many individuals battling for the high, as well as many shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.