Omaha Hi-Low: Fundamental Summary
Posted in Omaha on 09/27/2015 04:21 am by Fernanda
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. One more round of betting happens. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where many entrants get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same concept in just about every poker game.
The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems complex initially, following a couple of hands you will be able to get the base subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an amazing range of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have numerous players trying for the high hand, as well as many battling for the low. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.