Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi/lo starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the identical notion in almost all poker games.
A lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem difficult at first, following a couple of rounds you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 offers an amazing collection of wagering options and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high hand, and several battling for the low. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.