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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another round of wagering happens. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of wagering happens at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where many entrants get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same notion in nearly every poker game.
A low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complicated at the start, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming array of betting choices and seeing that you have several players trying for the high hand, and a few shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.