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Omaha Hi Low: General Overview

Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha Hi-Lo starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a number of entrants can get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same concept in almost all poker games.

The low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst 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 lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.

It may seem difficult at the start, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting range of wagering choices and because you have many individuals battling for the high hand, along with a few battling for the low hand. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.