Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players can get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize precisely three cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in just about every poker game.
The low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.
Although it seems complex initially, following a few hands you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha High-Low provides an amazing range of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have many players battling for the high, along with several battling for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha High-Low.
