Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of wagering follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players get flustered. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in nearly every poker game.
The low hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem difficult initially, following a couple of rounds you will be able to get the basic nuances of the game easily enough. Since you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming array of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have several individuals battling for the high, along with several shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.