Omaha Hi/Lo: Fundamental Summary
Posted in Omaha on 09/15/2008 02:20 am by Fernanda
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha hi/lo starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants often get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in just about every poker game.
A low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
Although it seems complex at the start, following a couple of rounds you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an exciting collection of betting options and seeing that you have numerous individuals trying for the high, and many battling for the low. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.