Omaha Hi Low: Basic Outline
Posted in Omaha on 11/18/2015 12:21 am by Ayden
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of betting happens. After all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players can get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical concept in nearly every poker game.
The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem complex initially, following a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi lo provides an amazing array of betting choices and because you have numerous individuals trying for the high hand, as well as several battling for the low. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha Hi-Lo.