Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi/lo starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants will need to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players often get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use exactly three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower 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 is the identical approach in nearly all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might 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 low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem difficult initially, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an amazing assortment of wagering options and because you have numerous players battling for the high hand, as well as several trying for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha hi low.