Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of betting happens. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same notion in just about all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.
Although it seems difficult at the start, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi-low offers an overwhelming assortment of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have numerous individuals shooting for the high hand, and a few shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.