Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha hi low begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another round of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many entrants get flustered. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card 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 how it sounds. It is the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same concept in just about every poker game.
The lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
While it seems difficult initially, after a few hands you will be agile enough to get the base nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming collection of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have numerous players shooting for the high, and many battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.
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