Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn 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 gamblers must attempt to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where many entrants often get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use precisely three cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two 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 strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same concept in just about all poker games.
The lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems complicated at first, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the base nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an amazing assortment of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have many players battling for the high hand, and a few battling for the low hand. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.