Omaha Hi Lo: Basic Overview
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi/low begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same notion in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out 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. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
While it seems complex at the outset, after a few hands you will be able to get the base nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an exciting range of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, as well as several trying for the low hand. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.
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