Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It’s a game 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 expanded in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha hi-low starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some players get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in almost every poker game.
A low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not 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 takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complex initially, following a few rounds you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting assortment of betting options and owing to the fact that you have numerous players trying for the high, along with many trying for the low. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.