Omaha Hi-Low: General Summary

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in popularity so quickly.

Omaha 8 or better begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where many entrants often get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

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

The lower hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the worst 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 low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.

While it seems difficult at first, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the base nuances of play easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi lo provides an amazing assortment of wagering possibilities and because you have several individuals trying for the high hand, as well as many battling for the low. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha hi/lo.