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’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better begins like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many players get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem difficult at the outset, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an exciting range of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have many players trying for the high, along with a few battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.