Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting follows where players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of wagering happens and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players can get confused. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal 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 is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same concept in almost every poker game.
The lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the worst 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 takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem difficult at the outset, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of the game with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming assortment of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have many individuals battling for the high, along with several trying for the low hand. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.