Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another round of wagering happens. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of entrants can get flustered. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use precisely three cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the identical concept in just about every poker game.
The lower hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complex at the outset, following a few hands you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha Hi-Lo provides an exciting range of wagering choices and seeing that you have several players trying for the high hand, as well as several battling for the low hand. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.
