Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi lo begins just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more round of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will have to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in almost all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
Although it seems difficult at first, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an exciting assortment of betting possibilities and seeing that you have numerous individuals battling for the high, along with many shooting for the low. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.