Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players can get flustered. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in just about every poker game.
A low hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complicated at the start, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the basic nuances of the game with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an exciting range of betting options and owing to the fact that you have several individuals shooting for the high, as well as a few trying for the low hand. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.