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Omaha Hi/Low: General Summary

Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha Hi-Lo begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting ensues and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few entrants often get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same notion in almost all poker games.

A lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem difficult initially, after a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming range of betting possibilities and because you have several players battling for the high, as well as a few trying for the low. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.

Posted in Poker.


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