Omaha Hi/Lo: General Outline
Posted in Omaha on 10/08/2017 02:25 am by Luna
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of wagering happens. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of entrants often get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use precisely three cards from the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same concept in almost all poker games.
A low hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of 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 lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem difficult at the outset, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play easily enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha hi lo provides an overwhelming assortment of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals trying for the high, as well as several shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha/8.