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Omaha Hi Lo: Basic Summary

Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in popularity so quickly.

Omaha hi/lo begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another round of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The players will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some players often get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the identical concept in almost all poker games.

A lower hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.

It may seem difficult initially, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play easily enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming range of betting options and because you have numerous players shooting for the high hand, as well as a few trying for the low hand. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.