Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi-low begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some entrants can get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem difficult at first, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic nuances of the game simply enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 provides an amazing range of betting possibilities and seeing that you have many players battling for the high, and many trying for the low. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.