Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has grown in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting follows where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further round of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of wagering ensues and then the river card is revealed. The players will have to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players can get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use exactly three cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical notion in nearly every poker game.
A lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complicated at the outset, following a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting range of betting options and seeing that you have numerous individuals trying for the high, and a few battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.