Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants often get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same approach in just about all poker games.
The low hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
While it seems complicated at the outset, after a few hands you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi-low provides an exciting collection of wagering choices and seeing that you have several players battling for the high hand, along with several battling for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.