01
August
Written by Michelle.
Posted in: Poker
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi/low begins just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of betting ensues where players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of wagering happens. After all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants often get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since 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 smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems complex at first, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an exciting assortment of wagering choices and because you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, along with many battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.
Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
