Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly two 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 "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the identical concept in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem complex at first, after a few hands you will be able to get the basic nuances of play with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an amazing assortment of betting options and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, along with many battling for the low hand. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.