Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. Another round of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants often get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical notion in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that 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 wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
While it seems complex initially, following a few hands you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of play with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing array of wagering options and seeing that you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, and several trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.