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Omaha Hi-Lo: Basic Summary

Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha/8 begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering happens at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of entrants can get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same approach in almost every poker game.

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

Although it seems difficult at the start, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an exciting collection of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have numerous players battling for the high, along with several shooting for the low. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.