Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. 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 players often get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical notion in nearly every poker game.
A low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complicated initially, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the base subtleties of the game easily enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting range of wagering choices and seeing that you have numerous players shooting for the high, and many battling for the low. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.