Omaha Hi Lo: Basic Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has grown in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha Hi-Lo begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. Once all the players have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same approach in just about all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem difficult at first, following a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 provides an amazing array of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, along with several battling for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi lo.
