Omaha Hi-Low: General 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, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants can get confused. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly 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 identical concept in nearly all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest value 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 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem complicated at the outset, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming assortment of betting possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, as well as many battling for the low. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.
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