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Omaha Hi-Low: General Summary

Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so quickly.

Omaha/8 starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of players get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use exactly three cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

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

The low hand is more complicated, 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 made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.

It may seem complex at the outset, following a couple of rounds you will be able to get the basic nuances of play easily enough. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing array of betting possibilities and because you have numerous individuals battling for the high, along with several shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha hi/lo.

Posted in Poker.


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