Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another round of betting happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will need to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants get confused. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical concept in just about every poker game.
A lower hand is more complex, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t 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 lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem difficult initially, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the basic nuances of play simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming array of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have numerous players battling for the high, as well as several trying for the low. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.