Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some entrants often get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same concept in nearly all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems complex initially, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an exciting assortment of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have many individuals trying for the high hand, along with many trying for the low. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.