Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. One more round of betting happens. After all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants get flustered. Contrasted to Hold’em, 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 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in just about all poker games.
A low hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t 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 lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complicated at first, after a few rounds you will be able to get the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing array of wagering options and seeing that you have many players trying for the high hand, as well as many trying for the low. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha Hi-Lo.