Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi lo starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players often get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical concept in almost all poker games.
A lower hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the worst being 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 eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem complicated at first, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the base subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have individuals 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 hi/lo offers an exciting range of betting choices and because you have numerous players shooting for the high hand, as well as several shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.