Omaha Hi/Lo: Fundamental Summary
Posted in Omaha on 01/24/2017 11:25 am by Luna
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants get baffled. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same notion in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
While it seems difficult at the start, following a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting array of betting choices and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high hand, and many shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha hi/lo.