Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of betting follows where players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting ensues and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants often get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be everyone’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, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same concept in almost all poker games.
A low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem complicated at the outset, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the base subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing array of betting options and seeing that you have many individuals trying for the high, and several battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha hi low.
Comments