Omaha Hi/Low: General Summary
March 22nd, 2019 at 9:25
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi low begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same notion in just about all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest value 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 five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
While it seems complicated at first, after a few rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an amazing array of betting possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, along with several shooting for the low. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.