Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen 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 main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of betting follows where players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further round of betting ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where many entrants get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same approach in just about every poker game.
A lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complicated at first, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the basic subtleties of the game simply enough. Since you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an amazing range of betting choices and seeing that you have many individuals battling for the high, along with a few trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.