08
October
Written by Manuel.
Posted in: Poker
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha hi-low starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants often get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which 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 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same approach in just about every poker game.
A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.
While it seems complex at the outset, following a couple of rounds you will be able to get the basic subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting assortment of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have numerous individuals trying for the high, as well as a few battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha hi/low.
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