Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. After all the players have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players often get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same concept in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
While it seems complex at first, after a few hands you will be able to get the basic nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming collection of betting choices and because you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, and many trying for the low hand. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha hi low.
This entry was posted on October 14, 2012, 3:21 pm and is filed under Poker. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.