Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 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, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting ensues and then the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in almost all poker games.
A lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems difficult at first, following a few hands you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an exciting collection of wagering choices and seeing that you have several individuals trying for the high, along with several shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.