Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi low starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. After all the players have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants often get baffled. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize exactly three cards from the board, and exactly two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same approach in nearly every poker game.
The low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. 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 high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
Although it seems difficult at the outset, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the basic nuances of the game with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha Hi-Lo provides an exciting collection of betting options and because you have many players battling for the high, along with many battling for the low. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha hi/low.