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 game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi/lo begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another round of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may 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. It is the same approach in almost all poker games.
A lower hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem complicated at the start, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi low provides an exciting assortment of betting choices and seeing that you have numerous players trying for the high, as well as several trying for the low hand. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.