Omaha Hi Lo: Basic Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi lo begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of betting follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of betting happens. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering happens and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants can get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical concept in just about every poker game.
A lower hand is more complex, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem complex at the start, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting assortment of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have many individuals trying for the high hand, and a few trying for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha hi/lo.