Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting ensues in which players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some entrants 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 from the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems complex at the outset, following a few hands you will be able to get the basic subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming assortment of betting options and because you have several individuals shooting for the high, along with many battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
This entry was posted on February 14, 2022, 2:25 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.