Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting follows where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players can get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in just about all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems complicated initially, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the basic nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha hi-low provides an amazing range of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have many individuals battling for the high, and several trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha/8.