04.07
Omaha Hi-Lo: General Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi-low starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same notion in almost all poker games.
The low hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complicated initially, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming range of betting choices and seeing that you have many individuals trying for the high hand, as well as many battling for the low hand. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.