Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many players get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the identical approach in just about every poker game.
A lower hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.
While it seems complicated at the start, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the base nuances of play simply enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting array of betting choices and seeing that you have numerous individuals trying for the high hand, along with many trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.