Omaha Hi/Low: General Summary
Posted in Poker on 08/14/2019 05:25 am by Valerie
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting ensues in which players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants often get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher 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, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t 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 lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem complicated at the start, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi lo provides an exciting array of wagering choices and because you have numerous individuals battling for the high hand, as well as several shooting for the low. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.