|
Omaha 8/b has a lot of names such as Omaha H/L, Omaha High/Low, Omaha Split and others, but all of them have the same meaning – it is a game with split pot. So it’s when the pot can be split between the best low hand and the high one (for that Holdem hierarchy uses usually). Speaking about low hand and it hierarchy will be commented in detail not so detailed.
There are such similar traits in that game as in Holdem: each gambler is dealt cards, then comes betting round, deals a 3-card flop, a turn card and for the last the river, with rounds of betting at the end and in between.
The main difference between Omaha H/L and Holdem is that in 1st one each gambler dealt 4 cards and in the last one just 2 cards.
If you want to make the best 5-card hand you should unite 2 and only 2 (no less and no more0 of your cards with 3 of the boards cards. This is the next different trait of Texas Holdem where you must play just 2 of your hole cards. For instance, if a player had 4 spades and still more pops up on the board, he don’t get a flush as he can use only 2 of his pocket cards for making thehand.
At first the "low" hand mechanics seem complicated but in fact are very easy. Your low hand basically is the lowest 5 unpaired cards that you have in your hand (Aces are counted as low, and flushes and straights are not versus a low hand, for example A2345 of hearts is an absolutely great low hand). A gambler can make use of two different pocket cards to make a low hand to the cards used to make a high hand. To meet the criteria for a low hand, in the low the highest one must always be no higher than an eight - therefore Omaha 8/b, “Omaha Eight or Better“. Thus if you hold A4678 as your lowest five unpaired cards, this is a low hand, but having A2349 means that you don't have low, since the nine is too high. This means that if by the river there aren’t three cards lower than a nine on the board, it’s impossible for anybody to make a low hand (because you have to use three cards from the board to make your hand). The lower the cards you have in the low hand, the better your low hand is. In the low purposely low hands start with the highest card and work backwards, the gambler that shows the first lower card than his opponent player(s) has the low. Let’s imagine the following scenario that will help to understand both low and high hands in Omaha:
Board (ignoring suits): QJ742
Player A: Q Q 9 6
Player B: A K T 3
Player C: A J 6 5
In this situation, Player A with QQQJ7 gets the high pot for QQQ. Player B doesn’t have a straight (if he was permitted to use 3 of his pocket cards he would, however certainly he is not), thus his best hand is AKQJ7 for Ace-high. And as his high hand Player C holds JJAQ7 for a Jacks pair. In regard to the low hand, Player A’s lowest hand is 24679, and it isn't a low since the 9 is too high for a low, Player B holds A2347, and the lowest hand of Player C is A2457 (not A2456 because only 2 pocket cards can be used!). To read the best low hand, just turn them around...
Player B: 7 4 3 2 A
Player C: 7 5 4 2 A
...and let’s examine the numbers just from left to right. Both participants have a 7, that’s why let’ see the next card. B holds a 4 and C has a 5. Since the 5 is higher than the 4, so Player B holds the best low hand and gets the low pot. If the second cards are the same you’d move to the third, and etc. actually, Player B holds the "nut low" in this situation, that is he holds the best possible low. If the board reads three low cards (8 or lower), and you hold the 2lowest cards that aren’t on the board, so you hold the nut low. For example, KK678 is on the board and you hold A2xx, so you hold the nut low. Likewise the board reads A237J and you just have 45xx, so you hold the nut low. Distinguish what is the nut low and if you’ve got it or a strong draw it’s essential to be successful when you start out with Omaha Eight or Better.
To review, basically the essential rules of Omaha holdem Poker are:
Use two and only two of your four pocket cards to make a hand.
You can also use two different pocket cards making your low and high hands.
Take a card deck at home and deal several hands out as practice or just play online several free games if you aren’t sure in your ability at determining your own hand at first such things like reading what you hold with A256 on a board of 23578 can be rather terrifying. With practice, you can do it quite easily in the end.
|
