Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi low begins just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some players get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in almost all poker games.
The low hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complex at the start, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the base nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing array of wagering options and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high, along with several trying for the low. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.