Omaha Hi/Lo: General Overview
Monday, 29. February 2016
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi-low starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting ensues in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of betting happens. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting ensues and then the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players can get baffled. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same approach in nearly all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complex initially, after a few hands you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of the game easily enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha hi lo provides an amazing collection of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have several individuals battling for the high, along with several battling for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
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