Omaha Hi/Lo: Basic Summary
Posted in Omaha on 01/14/2020 04:25 pm 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’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The players will have to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some players get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in nearly every poker game.
A low hand is more complex, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that 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 smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.
Although it seems complex at the start, after a few hands you will be able to get the base nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming range of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have many individuals battling for the high hand, as well as several trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha hi low.