Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha hi low starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of betting follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players often get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in nearly every poker game.
The low hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the worst being 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 low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complex initially, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of play with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing array of wagering choices and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high, along with several shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.