Omaha Hi-Lo: General Overview

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha Hi-Lo starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of wagering happens. Once all the players have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few entrants can get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize exactly three cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same concept in almost every poker game.

A low hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

Although it seems complex at the outset, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing assortment of wagering possibilities and because you have numerous players trying for the high, along with many battling for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha hi/low.