Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical approach in nearly every poker game.
A low hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complicated at the outset, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an exciting collection of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, along with many shooting for the low. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.