Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another round of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering ensues and then the river card is revealed. The players will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants can get flustered. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same notion in just about every poker game.
A low hand is more complex, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that 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 low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
While it seems complex at first, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the basic nuances of play with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha hi low provides an amazing collection of wagering possibilities and because you have many individuals battling for the high, along with many shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha High-Low.