Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha hi/lo begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another round of betting happens. After all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and exactly 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 "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in just about every poker game.
A low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that 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 lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.
Although it seems complex initially, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of play with ease. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha hi/lo provides an exciting collection of wagering choices and because you have numerous individuals shooting for the high hand, and several battling for the low hand. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.