Omaha Hi-Low: Fundamental Overview
Friday, 25. November 2016
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha hi low begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants can get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use precisely three cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in nearly every poker game.
The low hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the lowest value being made up of 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 five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complicated at the start, following a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an exciting array of wagering choices and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high hand, and a few shooting for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.
Posted in Omaha by Brennen