Omaha Hi Low: Fundamental Summary
August 29th, 2015 at 23:21
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha hi/low begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The players will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where many players get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two 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, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same concept in just about all poker games.
A low hand is more complex, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
While it seems complicated at first, following a few rounds you will be able to get the basic nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi lo offers an exciting array of betting possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high, and a few battling for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.