Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi-low begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of entrants can get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the identical notion in nearly all poker games.
A lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as 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 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem complicated at the start, after a few hands you will be agile enough to get the basic nuances of play simply enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting assortment of betting possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, along with many battling for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha Hi-Lo.