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Omaha Hi/Lo: General Overview

Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players will have to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where a number of entrants get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

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

The lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that 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 eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.

Although it seems complicated at first, following a few hands you will be able to get the base nuances of play with ease. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi low provides an exciting assortment of wagering possibilities and because you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, and many shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi/lo.