Omaha Hi/Lo: Fundamental Summary
Posted in Omaha on 03/26/2016 12:21 am by Luna
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting happens. After all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players often get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in nearly all poker games.
A lower hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem difficult at the outset, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of play with ease. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha hi lo provides an overwhelming range of betting options and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, and many battling for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.