Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of betting follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many players often get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical concept in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems complicated at first, after a few rounds you will be able to get the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 offers an amazing range of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have numerous players trying for the high hand, along with several shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha hi/lo.