Omaha Hi/Low: Basic Overview
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players often get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same concept in nearly all poker games.
The lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that 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 just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complicated at first, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi low offers an amazing range of betting options and seeing that you have numerous individuals battling for the high hand, and several shooting for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.
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