Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has grown in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants get confused. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize precisely three cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in nearly all poker games.
The lower hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
While it seems difficult at the outset, following a couple of hands you will be able to get the basic subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an amazing collection of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have several individuals battling for the high hand, and several trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha hi-low.