Omaha Hi Low: Fundamental Overview
Posted in Omaha on 09/12/2015 09:21 am by Ayden
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 action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of betting ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players can get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card 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’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same concept in nearly all poker games.
A 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 put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as 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 eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem difficult initially, after a few hands you will be able to get the base nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing assortment of wagering choices and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high hand, along with many trying for the low hand. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.