Omaha Hi-Lo: General Summary
Posted in Poker on 02/25/2021 12:25 am by Shelby
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many players get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same concept in almost every poker game.
The low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.
It may seem difficult at first, after a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an amazing array of betting choices and because you have many individuals trying for the high, along with a few shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.