Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha hi/low begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants can get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same notion in almost all poker games.
A low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest 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 smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
Although it seems complicated at the start, after a few hands you will be agile enough to get the basic nuances of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha High-Low provides an amazing collection of betting options and seeing that you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, along with several battling for the low. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.