Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha hi/lo begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more round of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where many players often get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same approach in just about every poker game.
A low hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complicated at first, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the base nuances of play easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha hi-low offers an exciting collection of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have numerous players battling for the high hand, as well as several trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.
April 22nd, 2010
Zayne
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