Omaha Hi Low: Basic Summary
July 8th, 2020 at 21:25
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi/low begins just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where some players get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize exactly three cards from the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in nearly every poker game.
A low hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.
Although it seems complex at first, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of the game simply enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing range of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have many individuals battling for the high hand, as well as many trying for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.