Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It is a variation 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 grown in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players can get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same approach in nearly every poker game.
The lower hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complex at first, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi low offers an amazing range of betting possibilities and because you have several individuals trying for the high, along with several shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.