Omaha Hi/Lo: Fundamental Summary
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use precisely three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same concept in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
Although it seems complicated at first, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 offers an exciting collection of betting options and because you have several players battling for the high, along with a few battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha/8.
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