Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi low begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of players can get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in almost all poker games.
A lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
While it seems complex at the outset, following a couple of rounds you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an exciting range of betting options and seeing that you have numerous players trying for the high, along with many shooting for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha/8.