Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It’s 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 expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of betting happens. After all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting ensues and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players get flustered. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same notion in almost all poker games.
A low hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.
While it seems complex at first, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming range of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have numerous individuals battling for the high hand, and several battling for the low hand. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.