Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha hi-low begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of wagering ensues and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where many players can get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use precisely three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the identical concept in just about all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complicated at the start, following a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic subtleties of play with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an exciting range of betting choices and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high, as well as a few trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha/8.