Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further round of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants can get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same notion in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem difficult initially, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the basic nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha Hi-Lo provides an exciting assortment of betting options and owing to the fact that you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, as well as many battling for the low hand. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
This entry was posted on March 15, 2016, 3:21 am and is filed under Omaha. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.