Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha Hi-Lo begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few players get flustered. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize 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 might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same approach in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When figuring out 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. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
While it seems complicated at the start, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi low offers an exciting array of wagering choices and seeing that you have several players battling for the high, and several shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.