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 is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha/8 begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting ensues in which players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few players often get flustered. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

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

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

It may seem complicated at the start, after a few hands you will be able to get the basic nuances of the game with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an exciting range of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high, as well as a few trying for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.