Omaha Hi-Low: Fundamental Overview
Posted in Omaha on 11/16/2019 10:25 am by Fernanda
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The players will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the identical concept in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because 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 below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
While it seems complicated at first, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing range of wagering options and because you have numerous individuals battling for the high hand, along with many trying for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.