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 favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few players get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in almost every poker game.

The low hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not 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 lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the entire pot.

While it seems complex initially, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming assortment of wagering possibilities and because you have numerous players shooting for the high, and several shooting for the low. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.