Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some entrants often get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to 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’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. 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 determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
While it seems complex initially, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of the game with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an exciting collection of betting choices and because you have many players battling for the high hand, as well as several battling for the low. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.