Poker Tips

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha/8 starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where some entrants often get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

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

A low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.

While it seems difficult initially, following a few rounds you will be able to get the base subtleties of play with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an exciting range of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have several players trying for the high hand, as well as a few trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.