Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of betting follows where players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of betting happens. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players get baffled. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical concept in just about every poker game.
The lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complicated at the start, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play easily enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming array of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have numerous players battling for the high hand, and several battling for the low hand. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.