Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has grown in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of betting follows in which players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of players often get flustered. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the identical concept in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems complex initially, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi/lo offers an overwhelming range of wagering choices and because you have many 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.
