Omaha Hi Lo: Basic Summary
Posted in Poker on 12/25/2018 04:25 pm by Marcus
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. After all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants can get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can 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. It’s the same approach in nearly every poker game.
The low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not 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 wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complex at the start, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the base nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha Hi-Lo provides an exciting array of wagering options and because you have numerous individuals shooting for the high, along with many trying for the low hand. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.