Omaha Hi/Low: Basic Overview
Posted in Omaha on 06/19/2020 03:25 pm by Luna
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting ensues where players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering happens at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same approach in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.
While it seems complicated initially, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha Hi-Lo provides an overwhelming assortment of wagering options and seeing that you have several individuals trying for the high, along with many shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi/low.