Omaha Hi Low: Fundamental Outline


Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha 8 or better starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of entrants often get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is 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 concept in just about all poker games.

A low hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.

It may seem difficult initially, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the base subtleties of the game with ease. 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 exciting range of betting choices and seeing that you have several players trying for the high, and a few battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.

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