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’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi/lo begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more round of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where many entrants often get flustered. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical notion in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems complex at first, following a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi lo provides an amazing array of betting possibilities and because you have many individuals shooting for the high, and a few shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi-low.