Omaha Hi Lo: Fundamental Summary
Friday, 13. November 2020
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in just about every poker game.
A lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complex at the outset, following a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting range of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have several players battling for the high hand, as well as a few shooting for the low. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
Posted in Omaha by Brennen