24
March
Written by Abdiel.
Posted in: Poker
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows in which players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants can get confused. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same concept in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more complicated, 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 made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complex at the outset, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of play easily enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha hi/lo offers an exciting array of betting possibilities and seeing that you have several players battling for the high, and a few battling for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.
Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
