Omaha Hi/Low: General Overview


Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of betting happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some players often get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use exactly three cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same notion in nearly all poker games.

A low hand is more complex, 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 made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.

While it seems difficult at first, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of play with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting range of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have numerous individuals shooting for the high hand, and a few battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi/lo.

  1. No comments yet.

You must be logged in to post a comment.