Omaha Hi Lo: General Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some players get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in just about every poker game.
A low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems complicated at the start, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the basic nuances of the game with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an exciting collection of betting choices and because you have many individuals trying for the high hand, and a few battling for the low. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.
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