Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of wagering happens. Once all the players have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players often get baffled. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use precisely three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same concept in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.
While it seems complex initially, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi/low provides an amazing collection of betting possibilities and because you have numerous individuals shooting for the high, along with several shooting 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 or better.