Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting follows in which players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting happens. Once all the players have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants often get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the worst 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 low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.
While it seems difficult initially, following a couple of hands you will be able to get the base nuances of play with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an exciting assortment of betting possibilities and seeing that you have many individuals battling for the high hand, and several battling for the low hand. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.