Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same notion in just about every poker game.
A low hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
Although it seems complex initially, following a couple of hands you will be able to get the base subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing assortment of wagering options and because you have numerous players shooting for the high hand, as well as a few battling for the low hand. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.