03.04
Omaha Hi/Lo: Basic Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha Hi-Lo begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants often get flustered. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same notion in just about every poker game.
The low hand is more complicated, 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 could be made, with the lowest being 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 lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem complex at first, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of the game easily enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an exciting array of betting choices and because you have numerous players shooting for the high, along with many battling for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha/8.