Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further round of wagering happens. After all the players have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 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 "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more complex, but really free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems difficult at first, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the base subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha hi-low provides an overwhelming collection of betting options and because you have several players shooting for the high, and many shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.