Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants can get confused. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower 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 concept in nearly all poker games.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest 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 do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem complex at the start, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of the game with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming collection of betting possibilities and seeing that you have many players trying for the high, and several trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.