Omaha

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has increased in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha 8 or better starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of entrants often get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

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

The lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.

It may seem complex at first, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an exciting assortment of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have numerous players shooting for the high, along with a few shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.