Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex 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 obscure variation, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants get baffled. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in just about every poker game.
A low hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since 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 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
Although it seems complicated at the start, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing range of wagering options and seeing that you have several players trying for the high hand, as well as several shooting for the low. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.