Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting follows in which players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. Another round of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of players often get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same concept in just about every poker game.
A low hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem complex initially, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the basic nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming array of wagering possibilities and because you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, and many trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha/8.