Omaha Hi/Low: Basic Overview
Thursday, 29. October 2015
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering happens and then the river card is revealed. The players will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where many entrants often get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in nearly every poker game.
A lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.
Although it seems complex initially, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi/lo offers an amazing range of wagering options and because you have several players battling for the high, as well as a few battling for the low. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.
Posted in Poker by Winston