Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants can get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 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 hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same approach in nearly every poker game.
A low 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 might be put together, with the worst 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 below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complicated at first, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming array of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have many players shooting for the high, and a few shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha hi low.
This entry was posted on February 3, 2016, 11:21 am and is filed under Omaha. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.