05.05
Omaha Hi Lo: Fundamental Summary
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha hi-low starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where many entrants can get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same approach in just about every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem difficult at first, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha High-Low offers an overwhelming range of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have several players battling for the high hand, as well as many trying for the low hand. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
