Omaha Hi-Lo: General Outline
Posted in Omaha on 04/11/2020 05:25 am by Luna
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. 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 obscure game, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some entrants get confused. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same notion in nearly all poker games.
The lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems difficult initially, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi low offers an overwhelming array of betting options and owing to the fact that you have numerous players battling for the high, along with many battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.