Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants can get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two 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 everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in almost every poker game.
The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. 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 low hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem complicated initially, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming collection of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have several individuals battling for the high, and a few trying for the low. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.