Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex 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 chief reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of wagering happens and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of entrants often get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card 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 is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same concept in just about all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
While it seems complex at the outset, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game simply enough. Since you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi low provides an amazing collection of betting choices and seeing that you have numerous individuals battling for the high, as well as a few battling for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha High-Low.