Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi/lo starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further round of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of entrants often get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in nearly every poker game.
A low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t 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 lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complex initially, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting range of betting options and because you have several individuals shooting for the high, and many battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha hi lo.