Omaha Hi/Lo: Fundamental Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha hi low starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players often get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same notion in almost every poker game.
A lower 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 can 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 lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand takes the entire pot.
Although it seems difficult at first, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the base subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting range of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have numerous individuals shooting for the high hand, and a few 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.
No comments yet.