Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players get confused. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use precisely three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in just about all poker games.
A low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complicated at the start, following a few hands you will be agile enough to get the base subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an exciting collection of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have several players battling for the high, and a few battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
