Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting follows where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering happens at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants often get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same notion in nearly every poker game.
The lower hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.
Although it seems difficult at first, following a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi lo provides an overwhelming collection of betting options and because you have many individuals battling for the high, along with many trying for the low. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha/8.