Omaha Hi-Lo: Fundamental Summary
November 7th, 2009 at 16:22
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi-low starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants get baffled. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use precisely three cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same concept in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be made, 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 smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
Although it seems complex at the outset, following a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing array of betting options and seeing that you have numerous players trying for the high, and a few shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.