Omaha Hi/Low: Basic Overview
Posted in Poker on 11/25/2007 12:17 pm by Nolan
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha hi lo begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering ensues in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of wagering happens at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of players can get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize exactly three cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the identical concept in just about every poker game.
The lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.
It may seem complex at first, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha hi/low offers an amazing array of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have several individuals trying for the high, and several battling for the low hand. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha hi-low.