Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants often get confused. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in just about every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem complex initially, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an amazing assortment of betting choices and seeing that you have numerous players battling for the high, and a few trying for the low hand. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha hi/lo.