Omaha Hi Low: Fundamental Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly 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 action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some players get confused. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same notion in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complex initially, following a couple of hands you will be able to get the basic nuances of play simply enough. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi low provides an amazing assortment of wagering options and because you have many players battling for the high, as well as a few shooting for the low. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi/low.
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