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’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting happens. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants can get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in just about every poker game.
A lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst 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 high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
While it seems difficult at first, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing assortment of betting possibilities and seeing that you have numerous players shooting for the high hand, as well as several battling for the low hand. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.