Omaha Hi/Lo: Fundamental Summary
Posted in Poker on 12/03/2020 12:25 pm by Christopher
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of betting follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering happens and then the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where some entrants often get baffled. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two 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 strongest possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in nearly every poker game.
A low hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t 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 lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.
It may seem complex at first, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an exciting range of betting choices and because you have several individuals trying for the high hand, as well as several battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha Hi-Lo.