Omaha Hi Low: Basic Overview
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi-low begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting ensues where players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some entrants can get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same notion in almost every poker game.
A low hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complex at the start, following a couple of rounds you will be able to get the basic subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting collection of betting options and because you have numerous individuals battling for the high hand, as well as a few trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi lo.
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