Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants can get baffled. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical concept in almost all poker games.
A lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not 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 lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complex initially, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Since you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming assortment of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have numerous players battling for the high, and many shooting 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 8 or better.