Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering follows in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. One more round of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many players get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in just about every poker game.
A low hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems complex at first, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi-low offers an amazing array of betting possibilities and because you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, along with many battling for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi-low.