Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some entrants can get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same approach in almost all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
Although it seems complex at the start, following a few rounds you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 offers an amazing collection of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have numerous individuals shooting for the high hand, along with several shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.