Omaha Hi-Low: Fundamental Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has grown in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of betting follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of wagering happens. After all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players can get baffled. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize precisely three cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in almost every poker game.
The lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem difficult initially, following a few rounds you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha Hi-Lo provides an exciting assortment of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have several individuals battling for the high hand, and many shooting for the low. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi-low.
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