Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has grown in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting ensues in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another round of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants often get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not 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 smaller. The lower hand wins 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 complex at first, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi/lo offers an amazing array of wagering possibilities and because you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, along with a few trying for the low. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.