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Omaha Hi-Lo: Fundamental Summary

Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha hi/low starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting follows where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some entrants often get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same notion in almost all poker games.

The low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem difficult at the outset, following a few hands you will be able to get the basic nuances of play simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming array of betting options and because you have several individuals battling for the high hand, along with a few shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi/low.

 

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