Omaha Hi Low: General Summary
Posted in Omaha on 06/22/2017 08:25 am by Fernanda
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi lo begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of wagering happens and then the river card is revealed. The players will need to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants can get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in just about all poker games.
The low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, 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 worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.
Although it seems complex at the outset, following a few rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of the game with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi low offers an exciting collection of betting options and because you have many players battling for the high, along with several trying for the low hand. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.