Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same concept in just about every poker game.
A lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complex at the start, after a few hands you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha hi low offers an exciting assortment of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have many individuals battling for the high, as well as a few trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha hi low.