15
September
Written by Sophia.
Posted in: Poker
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 normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha hi/lo begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some players can get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same approach in nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest 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 lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem complex initially, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the base nuances of the game easily enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an exciting range of betting options and because you have many individuals trying for the high, and several trying for the low. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha/8.
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