10.08
Omaha Hi Low: General Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha hi lo begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. 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 entrants get baffled. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in nearly every poker game.
The low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.
Although it seems complex at first, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an exciting array of betting choices and because you have several players trying for the high hand, and a few battling for the low hand. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha/8.