Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi/lo starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants often get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the identical concept in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complicated at first, after a few hands you will be agile enough to get the base nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting array of wagering options and seeing that you have many individuals battling for the high, and a few trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha/8.