Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha hi-low begins like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another round of wagering happens. Once all the players have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players can get flustered. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same concept in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not 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 does the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
Although it seems complicated at the outset, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi low provides an overwhelming collection of wagering possibilities and because you have numerous individuals trying for the high, along with several battling for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha hi/lo.