Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 begins just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. Another round of wagering happens. After all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players often get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complex at the start, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing range of betting options and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, as well as many shooting for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha Hi-Lo.