Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of betting follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of wagering happens. After all the players have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many entrants can get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same approach in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that 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 takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.
While it seems complicated at the start, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the basic subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing assortment of wagering options and seeing that you have numerous individuals shooting for the high hand, as well as several shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi low.