Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting ensues where players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another round of betting happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of entrants can get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No 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’s the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in almost every poker game.
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. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, 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 worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complicated at the start, after a few rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi lo provides an overwhelming assortment of betting possibilities and seeing that you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, along with several trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.