Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more round of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players can get baffled. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 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, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same notion in almost every poker game.
The lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When determining 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 made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
While it seems difficult initially, after a few hands you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting array of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have several individuals trying for the high, and a few battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha hi low.