11
May
Written by Michelle.
Posted in: Poker
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi low starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting follows where players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further round of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some players often get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower 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 is no low hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complex at the outset, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming range of betting options and seeing that you have several individuals trying for the high, and many battling 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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