Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 begins like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting ensues in which players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another round of wagering happens. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants can get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use precisely three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
While it seems complex at the start, following a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming range of betting possibilities and because you have several individuals shooting for the high, as well as many shooting for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.
This entry was posted on December 8, 2017, 3:25 pm 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.