Omaha Hi-Lo: Basic Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi lo begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting follows where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. Another round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants often get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same concept in nearly every poker game.
A low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems complicated at first, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha hi low provides an amazing collection of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have several individuals battling for the high hand, and many shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.
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