Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants often get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in nearly all poker games.
A low 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 might be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as 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 eight and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem difficult at the start, after a few hands you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better provides an exciting range of betting possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals trying for the high, and a few shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha hi low.