Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use exactly three 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 might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in nearly every poker game.
A lower hand is more complex, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complicated at first, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha hi-low provides an exciting collection of betting possibilities and because you have several individuals trying for the high hand, along with many trying for the low. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.