Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better begins just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of betting follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering happens and then 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 the point where many entrants often get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower 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 very same concept in almost all poker games.
A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complex at first, following a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic 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 lo provides an exciting range of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have several players battling for the high, along with many shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha/8.