Omaha Hi-Lo: Basic Summary
Posted in Omaha on 01/24/2016 05:21 pm by Fernanda
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional 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 based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players get flustered. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same approach in nearly all poker games.
A lower hand is more complex, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem difficult initially, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the basic nuances of the game with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an exciting collection of betting possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high, and many shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.