Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. After all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants often get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same concept in almost all poker games.
A lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem difficult initially, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha Hi-Lo offers an amazing collection of wagering options and because you have several players trying for the high hand, as well as several shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.