Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of betting happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players can get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same notion in nearly every poker game.
The lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems complex at first, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi/lo offers an exciting array of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have numerous players trying for the high, and many shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.