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’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering happens at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants will need to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players often get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same concept in just about all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem difficult initially, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic nuances of the game simply enough. Since you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha hi/lo provides an exciting collection of wagering options and because you have numerous players shooting for the high, along with several trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi/lo.