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Omaha Hi-Low: Fundamental Outline

Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in popularity so quickly.

Omaha/8 begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting follows where players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering follows at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few players can get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same concept in nearly all poker games.

The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.

Although it seems complicated at the start, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting collection of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have numerous players shooting for the high hand, and many trying for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.

Posted in Poker.


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