Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of wagering happens and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where many entrants often get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical approach in nearly all poker games.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complex at first, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming range of betting possibilities and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high, and many battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.