Omaha Information » Blog Archive » Omaha Hi-Low: General Outline

 

Omaha Hi-Low: General Outline

Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha 8 or better starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting follows where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further round of betting ensues. After all the players have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting ensues and then the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many players get confused. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the identical concept in just about all poker games.

A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.

Although it seems complex at the outset, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming array of betting options and seeing that you have several individuals trying for the high hand, as well as several battling for the low. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.

 

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.