26
November
Written by Cordell.
Posted in: Poker
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering follows in which players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few players can get confused. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in just about every poker game.
The low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest value 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 lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem complex initially, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic subtleties of play with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha hi lo offers an exciting array of wagering options and seeing that you have many players battling for the high, and many 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.
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