Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some entrants get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same notion in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems complicated at the outset, after a few hands you will be agile enough to get the base nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering 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 8 or better offers an exciting collection of betting options and because you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, along with several trying for the low. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha hi lo.