Omaha Hi Lo: Fundamental Outline
December 26th, 2015 at 13:21
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants will have to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some players can get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize precisely three cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in just about every poker game.
The lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
Although it seems complex at first, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming array of wagering choices and seeing that you have numerous individuals trying for the high, along with a few battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.