Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of wagering happens. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many entrants get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in nearly all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complex at first, following a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base nuances of play simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi lo offers an amazing range of wagering choices and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high, and many battling for the low. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.