Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of betting ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. After all the players have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some players get flustered. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same approach in just about every poker game.
The low hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.
Although it seems difficult at the outset, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the basic nuances of the game with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming array of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have numerous players shooting for the high hand, along with a few trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.