09
May
Written by Abdiel.
Posted in: Poker
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha/8 begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of betting happens. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting ensues and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many players get baffled. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same approach in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the entire pot.
Although it seems difficult at first, following a few hands you will be able to get the basic subtleties of the game simply enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha hi/low provides an overwhelming array of wagering choices and because you have numerous players battling for the high, and several battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.
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