Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of betting ensues where players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants can get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same concept in almost all poker games.
A lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem difficult at the outset, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals 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 offers an amazing range of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, as well as a few trying for the low. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha hi lo.