Omaha Hi Low: General Outline

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha 8 or better begins like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting follows in which players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further round of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering follows at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of players get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

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

The lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.

It may seem difficult at the start, following a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of play easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi low offers an amazing range of betting possibilities and because you have several players shooting for the high, as well as several trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.