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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.
Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further round of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where many entrants get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in just about all poker games.
The low 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 could be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.
While it seems complex at the outset, following a couple of hands you will be able to get the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an amazing range of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have numerous individuals shooting for the high, as well as several trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.