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Omaha Hi/Low: General Outline
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another round of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering happens and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants often get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can 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 every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. 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 low hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.
While it seems difficult at the outset, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of play with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha High-Low offers an exciting range of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high hand, and many shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.