Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi lo starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players can get confused. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical notion in just about every poker game.
The lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complicated initially, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of play easily enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming collection of betting choices and seeing that you have numerous individuals trying for the high, and many trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.