Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering ensues and then the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of players get flustered. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize exactly three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same notion in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
While it seems complex at the start, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing collection of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have many players battling for the high, along with several battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.