Omaha Hi Lo: Fundamental Summary
Posted in Omaha on 04/11/2016 08:21 pm by Ayden
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players get confused. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize exactly three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card 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 exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same approach in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s 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 being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.
Although it seems complicated initially, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an exciting range of betting options and because you have many players battling for the high, as well as several trying for the low hand. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha hi lo.