Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It is a game 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 expanded in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting ensues in which players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of betting happens. After all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some players often get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to use precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same approach in just about every poker game.
The lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
Although it seems complicated at the outset, after a few hands you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi/lo provides an amazing array of betting options and because you have several individuals shooting for the high, as well as a few trying for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.