Omaha Hi/Lo: Basic Overview


Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha hi-low begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where a few entrants often get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in just about every poker game.

The lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not 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 do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.

While it seems difficult at first, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an exciting array of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have several players battling for the high, and a few battling for the low hand. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi/lo.

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