Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi low begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of wagering happens. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players often get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in just about every poker game.
A lower hand is more complex, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
While it seems difficult at the outset, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi-low offers an exciting collection of wagering choices and because you have many individuals battling for the high hand, and several trying for the low hand. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha Hi-Lo.