Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further round of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will need to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players get flustered. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical concept in almost every poker game.
A low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem complicated at the start, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an exciting assortment of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have several players trying for the high hand, and several battling for the low hand. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.