Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players can get confused. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use precisely three cards from the board, and exactly two hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same concept in almost every poker game.
The lower hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem complex at first, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an amazing range of betting possibilities and seeing that you have several players battling for the high, as well as several shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.