Omaha Hi Low: Fundamental Summary
Posted in Omaha on 07/31/2019 11:25 am by LunaOmaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting ensues in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants get baffled. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in almost every poker game.
A low hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.
Although it seems complex at first, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha hi/low offers an overwhelming collection of wagering choices and seeing that you have numerous individuals shooting for the high, along with several shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.