Omaha Hi-Lo: Fundamental Overview
Posted in Omaha on 08/28/2015 08:21 pm by Fernanda
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. 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 variation, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of players get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in nearly all poker games.
The lower hand is more complex, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem difficult at first, after a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming collection of wagering options and because you have many individuals trying for the high hand, and a few shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha hi/lo.