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Omaha Hi/Low: General Summary

Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha hi low starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where some players often get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use precisely three cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same approach in almost every poker game.

The low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because 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 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.

While it seems complicated at the outset, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi low provides an overwhelming range of betting options and owing to the fact that you have many players shooting for the high, and a few shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.

Posted in Poker.


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