Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting ensues and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players get confused. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher 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 notion in just about all poker games.
A low hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
While it seems complicated at the start, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha High-Low offers an overwhelming array of wagering choices and seeing that you have numerous individuals trying for the high hand, along with several trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha/8.