Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi-low begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of betting ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players can get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two 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 best possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in almost all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complicated at first, after a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting collection of wagering options and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high hand, and several shooting for the low. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.