Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting ensues where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some entrants can get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use precisely three cards on 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 may 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 every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same concept in nearly all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, 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 could be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complex at the start, after a few hands you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha hi lo provides an amazing range of betting possibilities and because you have many players battling for the high hand, along with many battling for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha hi low.