Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many entrants get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly two 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 "low 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 very same concept in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem difficult at first, following a few hands you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of the game simply enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi/lo provides an overwhelming range of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have many individuals trying for the high, and several battling for the low. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha hi-low.