Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi lo begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. Another round of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt 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 confused. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same notion in nearly all poker games.
The lower hand is more complex, but really free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being 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 takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
While it seems difficult at the start, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming range of betting options and seeing that you have numerous individuals trying for the high hand, as well as several trying for the low hand. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha hi/low.