Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting follows where players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants get baffled. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in almost every poker game.
A low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.
While it seems complex initially, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 offers an amazing range of betting choices and because you have several individuals trying for the high, along with several battling for the low hand. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha Hi-Lo.