Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same approach in nearly all poker games.
The low hand is more complex, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.
While it seems complicated at first, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming collection of wagering possibilities and because you have several players battling for the high hand, and a few shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.
