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Omaha Hi Low: Fundamental Outline

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 is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha hi lo begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where some entrants can get confused. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly two hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in nearly every poker game.

The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that 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 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem complex at first, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 offers an amazing range of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have many individuals battling for the high, as well as a few shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha Hi-Lo.