Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen 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 main reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some entrants can get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. 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 what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in almost every poker game.
The lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complicated at first, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 offers an exciting assortment of betting possibilities and because you have many players trying for the high, along with many shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.