Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complex but favored poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some players get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical approach in just about all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower 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’s no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complex at the start, following a couple of rounds you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering 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 range of betting options and seeing that you have numerous individuals trying for the high hand, as well as many battling for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi/low.