30
January
Written by Sophia.
Posted in: Poker
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha Hi-Lo starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of betting follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players can get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike 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 possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in nearly all poker games.
A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because 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 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
While it seems difficult at the start, following a few rounds you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming array of betting choices and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high hand, as well as several trying for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi lo.
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