Omaha Hi-Lo: Basic Summary

Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha 8 or better begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting follows where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to put together 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. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in almost all poker games.

The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest 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 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.

It may seem complex at the outset, following a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi-low provides an amazing assortment of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have many individuals trying for the high hand, as well as many shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.

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