Omaha

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of wagering follows at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of players often get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in almost all poker games.

A lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.

It may seem complex initially, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha High-Low provides an exciting array of betting possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high, along with several shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.